The Ball

"... I'll never know what made it so exciting, why all at once my heart took flight..."

There's nothing like a ball to make a Grinch's heart grow three sizes.


That's my little cuz. She's a sugar-free kid herself, and her parents were king and queen of The Kingdom for a Cure Ball. They raised over $128K for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and besides that it was fun! It's always a good time when your entire family gets dressed and bes fancy together.


Brother and girlfriend, standing on our bed to avoid the royal getting ready mess.


Brother's girlfriend and my mom, taking a carriage ride.


Me and my dad. We be fancy together.



All of the being fancy was just a bonus, though. It felt good to do good. This may seem like a no-brainer to you, but I am generally anti-Fund Raiser. Can't explain it. But those kids thought I was a real honest-to-goodness princess, seriously. They stand there with their eyes wide, looking up at me like I had just hopped out of a cartoon. They wanted their moms to bring them over to meet me.


It was the most fun thing about the whole night, and I think the little buggers got to me. I know they weren't looking up at me like that because of the banners that I made or the little bit of money we were able to give, but the two things got mixed up in my heart. It made me wonder what else could be done.


This is one of the two banners that I made. Unfortunately we didn't get any photos better than this one.

But next year there will be another Ball, and I wonder what kind of item I might raffle off myself here on the blog or on Ravelry or on eBay that might raise a bit more money for Senor and I to donate than we can afford to give ourselves... Any suggestions? We've got a year.

What it's all worth.

Pre-script: As of last night, my total percentage of weight lost in 2008 was brought up to 2.86%. Yahoo!

Here's a little story from a few weeks ago that got lost in the holiday shuffle. Non-knitters, you may find this a bit shocking. Knitting devotees, you'll know exactly how I felt.

Before setting out for Oklahoma for a snow-dusted down-home Christmas, my parents and brother swung by our apartment with some champagne to say Cheers! and wish us well. Our bags were packed, our ride to the airport arranged, and everything was fine. We had a little drink and watched the clock tick away. When it was time, we picked up and loaded up and headed for the airport. My brother drove us, so we didn't have to pay a cab.

We waited in an impressively short line to check in, considering it was the Friday before Christmas. Check in went smoothly, and as we walked away from the self-check-in machine two bags lighter I thought eagerly to the time when we would be through the security line and seated waiting for the plane with knitting. in. hand. oh. sweet. jeebus. where. the. hell. is. my. knitting bag?!

It was at home. In the confusion of people and partying, I'd left my carefully packed holiday knitting bag in the middle of the living room floor. My heart liquified and ran down into my legs, which became very heavy, and I stopped walking. Senor looked at me with that face that says, "Oh no, what did you forget that's going to cause big problems?" I answer, "My knitting is at home." "Can you live without it?" he asked. "Yes. No. I'm taking a cab home to get it." Since we were already checked in and had almost two hours before we had to be at the gate, there was plenty of time. I ran out and caught a cab.

Now, please understand, we live walking distance from the airport. It would be a long walk, but we could do it. We live to the soundtrack of take offs and landings; it's a short drive.

But it's not free.

The cab driver took me home and waited while I ran upstairs. Then he drove me back as I hugged my yarn tightly. He said I seemed relieved. Dude, you have no idea.

So what was my knitting worth? $30 cash. Taking into consideration the inconvenience factor and the I'm-a-Dumbass quotient, it felt like $50 (then again, add in the relief factor, and it felt like someone had just given me $50, so I think we broke even overall).

UNCLE!!!

Okay, Okay, I'll do it. I'll make a Monkey, FINE!!

Crafts for the Little Sugar-Free Kids

I am helping make decorations for the Royal Ball, and here is what I've come up with today:


They look much better in real life, of course, but I have to say that from scratch to shields, these aren't half-bad! And it's been a few years (like 15+) since I used glitter glue, but damn, that stuff is fun!!

I hope that these will help get people in the donating spirit! Cure for Juvenile Diabetes, here we come!

Long Awaited

I made this little item months ago. In fact, I started it on Halloween night as a plumber plumbed potato peels out of my kitchen sink. It was a whimsy of an experiment that I hoped would turn into a prototype of sorts. But it was also a Christmas present intended for the baby of a reader, and thus never got mentioned. Now the gift has been received, safely delivered over vast oceans, in Australia, and the evidence is clear: The baby is cuter than the dress, but the dress is damn cute if I do say so myself.


As Maddie is now a mover and a shaker, it's hard to get a good view of the craftiness. Here are a few that I took before sending it. Here is the front:



And the back:


And a close up of some of my handstitching, just to prove I did some. You can tell I love this kid (and her mommy).

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

At the end of this month, Senor and I will be attending a Royal Ball. The event is called "Kingdom for a Cure", and it's a fundraiser for juvenile diabetes. My cousin's little girl was diagnosed with the disease at 18 months old and has been fighting it ever since. Being conscientious people and parents (and lovers of formal events in general), my cousin and her husband are throwing a Ball.

So I had to get a dress, right? I don't have mice and sparrows to make me one, so my mom and I did the next best thing. We went to the garment district in Downtown L.A. I present to you Princess Senora Fuerte:


Now all I need is a pair of glass slippers and a tiara. Yeah baby!

And then I'll have to be Belle for every Halloween from now on. Or maybe I'll audition for the Mrs. America pageant... I'd just have to get a big sunshine-shaped headdress (why do they do that to the married ones?).

The New Year's Eve Effect

Why Why Why does a lovely evening that starts out looking like this:

(note the hand-knits and jaunty disposable hats)

Always leave at least one person looking like this:


At least the table cloth soaked up my pinot before it reached his pant-legs...

How do you do the New Year? And is it ever as good as you hoped? For next year, boy I tell you what...

...Bomb Shelter.

The Year It All Happens

I have declared 2008 as "The Year It All Happens". It's all gonna happen. All of it. For you. For me. Whatever It you've been waiting for, It's gonna happen in 2008.

While it is now 8 days into '08, I haven't been slacking, I've been busier than ever, just not with blogging. 7 days into a lifestyle change (no, nothing like that) I am down 1 1/2 pounds. That's 0.99% of my starting weight for any Big Losers out there. I'm heading for 15%. This alone has kept me busy for the entire week.

I also have some knitting adventures to show. I bring you:

CHRISTMAS IN KNITS

My first and probably only knitting on snow photo. These have had two fingers of ends woven in so far. I haven't touched them since, but every morning when it's cold, I look longingly at them and know that I will get to it just in time for the first scorching blush of Spring.


Jaywalker 4.0 is finished!! They've been worn and washed already, even. Of course, 4.2 stripes very evenly and neatly, while 4.1 must have had an extra strategic decrease that I forgot about... just check out the pooling!!!


And I got to see the Peapod's owner:

Yeah. Baby!

And here's a new baby sweater:


And a grown-up thing for me:

It's a second capelet, because I can't wear the gray one Every day.

That's all for now. (Welcome back.) Thank you.

Let the panic begin!

T minus 9hrs 25min until take off... It's gusting up to 60 mph here in good old El Segundo, and I get to climb into a metal tube and the thrust up into the churning, surging air later. Oh goody! Will I keep my cool? I'm almost certain. Will I be quietly sh***ing myself? Well, yes, yes I will. But I'll also be kn***ing myself. (See what I did there?) If we get stuck in an airport for 4 days, I will not run out of knitting. If we get snowed in for the duration of our 5 days in Oklahoma, I will not run out of knitting. Of course, I'll probably get next to no knitting done once we get there, but carrying so many projects with me is a risk I'm willing to take. I will begin my trip knitting with the gloves I started, 'cause something tells me that I'm gonna need 'em. Forecast for tomorrow is highs in the 30s. I know to some of you that is nothing. I know it's just what winter is supposed to be like, but I'm sitting here in California in the 60s with some wind and I'm freezing my ass off.

I also have two pair of socks, my capelet, which is getting very closed to finished, and an unstarted hat, again, 'cause I'll need it. What do you think about Malabrigo in Apricot on size 8s? Quick, easy, and it'll look great with my hair!!

So the bags are packed, the last panic before the panic will of course be this: Getting to the airport and through the lines in time. Senor's anticipated arrival home is at about 3:30. 10 min ride to airport. We will be arriving, if all goes smoothly, less than 2hrs ahead of time. There's nothing for it. We'll just have to hold our breath, be extra sweet and kind to the airport staff and hope for some sympathy and cooperation. At least we are not flying Southwest.

If all goes well and the plane stays up, I'll try to drop a note from OK sometime tomorrow.

Take care, y'all. (I'm practicing)

Christmas Spirit: I Almost Has it.

While generally a Grinch this time of year, though not a total Scrooge, I have found a few moments that have helped me get it up for Christmas... my spirit, I mean.

- Seeing Senor's Big Boss doing the splits with her V.P.s at the department Christmas party last night... Oh, booze, you are a beautiful thing! Especially when you are free.

- The annual parade of scented candles and candy from my dance students began last night. I'll be chubby with acne, but at least my house will smell!

- New winter coat for early Christmas. Watch out Oklahoma Ice Storm, I'm comin' to melt you 'cause I'm looking so hot (and so warm).

- Lox and Bagels and hot Ham/Cheese/Croissant sandwiches on the same day?! Yes please!!!

- Christmas shopping is officially finished. Phew! Now begins the thumb sucking, rocking and face twitching that comes along with recovering from having been "out there."

- One more dance class to teach and then two weeks off from "Bailey, stop falling down on purpose! Kelli, no hanging on Audrey! Girls, stop tapping while I'm talking!!" Sweet Sweet silence and rubber soled shoes for two whole weeks!!!

- Waitin' on the Countdown. Nuff said for now.

- Rain.

- An article about Sock Wars ran in the Wall Street Journal this week. Front page. I didn't participate this year, but knice knews coverage, Knitties!!

- www.icanhascheezburger.com When you need a pick-me-up.



I think that pretty much sums it up.

When I can't do it...

... I feel like a stupid person. I know that I'm not. So why can't I do it?

I discovered some chronic stitch pattern errors in my Print o' the Wave stole. That was the deciding moment. I cut it from the ball without hesitation. I was looking for a sign, and I discovered it in the moment of clarity where I could finally see my mistakes. I knew they were there, but I didn't see them until now. They were riddled through it like lace cancer and the only way to fix it would have been to frog back all the way anyway. So it's done.

But I've got an itch for lace, so I found another pattern to attempt, the Lilly of the Valley stole from Lace Style. I cast on last night, no problem and got to work.

So why is it that an intelligent person such as myself cannot count properly? I've already got stitch pattern issues that I can't explain and I'm only an inch and a half into it. I looked, I found one, I ticked back and redid that row. Guess what, still not right!!!! I'm really pissed off! Sure, I make mistakes often in my life, and I'm okay with that because no one is perfect... but WHY CAN'T I FRICKIN' FIND THE MISTAKES?!!!! RAAAAAUURRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

It's over. I'm breaking up with the Lilly of the Valley Stole. Whatever.

Does anyone know of a pattern that's so easy even a smart person can't mess it up?

Why are we out of wine?!

Revisiting

Hi, Amembah me?

I haven't touched my Print O' the Wave stole since last November... at least, that's the last I remember touching it, the weekend of my Father in Law's wedding, which was also Thanksgiving weekend. If I've touched it since then, I guess it wasn't very memorable.

At this point, I have no idea what row I am on, and I know there are at least a mistake or two somewhere in there. I am hesitant to continue where I left off, knowing that I am a much better knitter now than I was a year ago and could possibly do it perfectly if I were to start over. I am also hesitant to frog inches and inches of work...

So here is the deal I am striking with myself: I will investigate in hopes of uncovering which row I was on. I will finish that pattern repeat and knit another. If I am unsatisfied with the overall look of the thing, or if there is a significant guage change due to experience, or if the thing is just too tainted with my frustration to be enjoyable... I will frog and start over. After careful consideration, I have decided I still do want a Print o' the Wave stole of my very own... but I'm not sure about this particular incarnation of it.

I have brought it to work with me. We shall see, oh yes, we shall see...

Back to Knitting

The knitting resumes with a vengeance, and as I am sure all my knitting friends would agree, December is a time for quick finishes. Do it now, get it done, have it on hand. So that is what I've been up to.


These bitty baby socks flew off the needles. I'm not crazy about the pointy toes as I don't think I know any people having elf children... so if I make them again, I'll try a little something different.



This loopy alpaca scarf, while not exactly flying off the needles, is progressing fairly quickly and will only be a shortie. In real life it's a much better chocolatey green color than the photo indicates. It's for when you need a little ruffle in your day.


A few hours and a few fewer increases and you have Calorimetry Lite, same great taste, less filling.


A glove. Though it hath not fingers now, it shall in the offing. White ones. Its mate is being knit presently. Ask not the source of the bizzaro language. I Wassail... Heedless of the Wind and Weather!!

And one last thing, just 'cause it's wee...

I did it!

I'm a winner!!!! I wrote 50,076 words in one month!!!!

I need a drink and some knitting...

3 More Days

Nanowrimo ends on Friday at midnight. I will get this thing finished, but I have not made it easy on myself. First, I started over on the 10th, abandonning 10,000 words worth. Then I got the stomach flu last week and laid on the floor for 3 days straight. Never knit a stitch. Never turned on the computer. That's really sick. Then we left for Palm Dessert for Thanksgiving which was much too fun/stressful to lock myself in a bedroom and miss any part of... So now, I'm stuck with 18,000+ words to write in 3 days. Oh it's gonna get done, but I am not going to like it.

I'm aiming for 5,000 today, 5,000 tomorrow and 8,000 on Friday. I only wrote 1,000 yesterday, but I didn't finish teaching until 8pm and then Biggest Loser was on... yes, I know, I'm a big loser... not in the weight department (though being sick helped), but in the finger-L on the forehead department.

I will be back with you shortly with great quantities of knitting. It is getting done despite other obligations. When you need to knit your first glove, you just effing need it! You know what I'm saying?

Thank you for your patience. I miss blogging, honestly, but the typing typing typing is enough to make me wish I could type by banging my head on the keyboard instead...

IT'S BACK! IT'S BACK!!!!

Project Runway Season 4-- Woop!!!
Last night's winner in my opinion(though this is a dreadful photo of it):

Close second:


And the winner for strangest choice of model:


If Linda Hamilton and the Beast had had a kid...? Anyone else seeing that?

On the novel:
I got to about 10,000 words and started over. I'm back up over 8,000 words but with much less time on my hands. It's moving along smoothly now, but if I don't write much in the next two weeks, that's why. I'll have to squeeze out 2800 bloody words a day to make it... Eesh!

Saving Words

Finished.

Started.

Started.


As for the novel... I am behind, but I fight on!!

NaNoSweWho?

Many in the knitting/blogging world have today commenced with NaKniSweMo, or National Knit a Sweater Month. The idea, inspired by NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), is to knit a sweater consisting of roughly 50,000 stitches in the month of November. The number 50K is based on the 50K word novel the NaNoWriMos are doing...

Am I going to do it? Depends which "it" you are thinking... I am not signing up for NaKniSweMo. I have signed up for NaNoWriMo, though. 50,000 words. 30 days. If your math is fast, you already know that's 1666.666666666666666 words/day. It doesn't have to be good; it doesn't have to be published; it just has to be done.

Today I have written 1824 words. Starting out ahead of the game. Nice.

Do I have a sweater to work on in November? Of course I do. Will I try to finish it ALSO? You betcha. The pressure of NaKniSweMo might distract me from writing though, so I have not signed up officially. The writing is the more difficult to motivate, so that is the current plan.

Yeah baby!

"Well, since the machine is out...

... I'll just put a seam on every piece of fabric I can find."

This weekend, my brother and his maties threw a pirate party. I felt the pressure to do the sexy pirate wench thing, but I couldn't get it together (not to mention all the other girls at the party are about 6 years my junior and half my size). So I bucked the system and went as unsexy as possible. I went as the sleepy pirate who got woken up by the loud pirate party.

While many females believe that Halloween is for dressing like a hooker without getting paid for it, I have often taken the path less travelled and gone for Festively Ugly. I made the hats and eye patches for both myself and my pirate bear buddy. The jammies are from Marshall's. The slippers and gold earrings are from Rite Aid. The robe is actually my wool coat minus the belt. The beard is Smashbox eyeshadow (only the best!) in Smoke.



Senor went as the Dread Pirate Roberts from The Princess Bride.

The Dread Pirate Roberts is coming for your SOOOOUUUUULLLLLS!!!

We bought him gloves, but forgot all about them. I made the head covering and sash.

And since the sewing machine was out, I began crafting. One of my projects I can't show yet, as I'd like it to be a surprise for a certain British contest winner...

The second, is a bottle gift bag. I taught myself to make button holes on the machine for the ribbon to thread through.




And the last project, though not quite finished is a Christmas inspired baby quilt. Why a baby quilt you ask? No reason, except that they don't take as long as grown-up quilts. Gotta work up the stamina, you see...


When it will get finished is completely up for grabs, as I have now put the sewing machine away...

Voila!!

Let's see if it blocks out big enough to be cozy instead of cramped...