04 December 2008

Wish List, Winter 2008

E.T.A. This was dated incorrectly, and I'd forgotten about Ork Posters!

I don't know why I have such fun making these lists, but I do. What do you want this season?

  • Pretty pearl drop earrings - they remind me of a pair Nick gave me years ago
  • This pretty clutch from Red Ruby Rose embroidery, silk, nickel clasp - all things I like
  • I am still longing for Scilla (under Bohus Stickning)
  • Silk (again with the silk!) Circus dress and one of Desira's Bow belts - I'm thinking of an all-etsy wardrobe for the coming year. Not truly possible with my need for Lucky jeans and all, but fun to imagine.
  • Silver Wellies 'nuf said
  • Yarn, yarn, yarn
  • T I M E Time to knit, write, sleep, design those patterns in my head, play with my kids
  • a baby who sleeps some of the time
  • remote for my camera
  • blocking board - not really sure what kind but some surface for blocking
  • sewing stuff - I'm getting (have gotten, actually; the box is in the laundry room) a sewing machine for Christmas, so if you have any recommendations on books or blogs or websites, please let me know. My mom taught me to sew when I was little, so I hope it comes back to me, though I should probably find a class to refresh my memory.
  • Starbucks card since I'm too cheap to treat myself very often (except when I'm visiting my parents 'cause there's a Starbucks drive-thru near their house - love it!)
  • fabulous laptop case - why is it sold out?!?
  • the Domino book
  • an ork poster (or three) - the pale blue Boston one, the Great Lakes one, the orange butcher paper Manhattan (how cool is that substrate?), the white on black Chicago - so many to choose from
  • Christmas Meme

    I read this on Carol's blog and enjoyed it. Hope you will, too.

    1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper (from IKEA usually) or tissue paper and this wonderful ribbon from Paper Source (wish they would open one here in NYC; I always visit when in the Chicago area)
    2. Real tree or Artificial? Real! We're going to get ours this weekend from one of the QuebeƧois vendors who sell trees on the street in New York.
    3. When do you put up the tree? We haven't solidified a tradition yet but sooner rather than later, as we will be in Chicago for the holidays.
    4. When do you take the tree down? A week after we should have.
    5. Do you like eggnog? Noooo. That may be the one dairy thing that I do not like.
    6. Favorite gift received as a child? The dollhouse my parents made for me when I was six.
    7. Hardest person to buy for? My father. Added bonus: his birthday is just a couple of weeks before Father's Day.
    8. Easiest person to buy for? Isobel. So much fun to find gifts for my little/big girl.
    9. Do you have a nativity scene? Not here, but my mother has a beautiful one that was her parents'.
    10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Maybe New Year's cards in the mail? I still have to send out Penelope's birth announcements, but she's been a pickle on naps thus far. Next year?
    11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Netflix (nothing against them) from my now-ex-husband. I should have known he was having an affair at that point.
    12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life followed by A Christmas Story. Is it being a Midwesterner that makes it such a resonant movie for me?
    13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? December, though I try to start knitting any presents earlier.
    14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.
    15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mother's Boeuf Bourguignion and her mother's thumbprint cookies.
    16. Lights on the tree? Of course! White lights.
    17. Favorite Christmas song? Pretty much all of them. Well, except for the dog barking ones and such. All the real Christmas songs.
    18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Winging to Chi-town.
    19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? You bet.
    20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? My family does one Christmas Eve, usually with family friends, and the rest Christmas morning. Not sure what it will be like this year (we're staying with my in-laws).
    21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The buybuybuy mentality, particularly this year. I'm trying to do handmade - we'll see.
    22. Favorite ornament theme or color? Lots of red, since that shows up against the tree, and silver, which is just my thing.
    23. What do you want for Christmas this year? Anything from my wishlist.
    24. Angel on the tree top or a star? Very pretty angel at my parents' house. I need to do something about the dreadful papier mache star I have for our home.
    25. Favorite Christmas dinner? See #15. And there's usually shrimp cocktail and champagne to start. Last year I had to forgo the champagne, and that's how I told my dad I was expecting.

    03 December 2008

    Belated Thankful

    I am so blessed. This year I am thankful for

    -my husband
    -my beautiful children (may they some day sleep through the night)
    -my family (old, new, and ex)
    -living in New York City (finally!)
    -knitting
    -blogging (and all my bloggy friends)
    -ravelry
    -my sister leaving Afghanistan
    -President Obama
    -JetBlue (TV on airplanes is the best thing to happen to family travel ... ever!) and the new T5

    I know there is more to be thankful for, but that's all I've got today.

    28 November 2008

    Knitting Daily Pattern Store Sale

    A Thanksgiving treat from our friends at Knitting Daily: Pattern Sale. Once an issue goes out of print, the good folks at Interweave Knits now offer the patterns for sale online. Prices are reasonable ($5.50 less 20% through 1 December), and you have the joy of instant gratification via PDF.

    21 November 2008

    News: Popknits, Winter 2008

    Popknits preview for Winter 2008 is up here.

    Fayfay looks like a nice project for that yummy skein(s) of Kidsilk Haze you have marinating in your stash.

    FO: Big Sister Aran


    Pattern: Aran Pullover from Knitting for Baby [Ravelry Project Page]
    Size: 24 months for my niece Frances
    Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton in Bone
    Mods: just subbing the Organic Cotton for the superwash wool called for

    Like the model? She really did pose for this one, which is actually for my niece rather than Isobel, though Miss Is wants one now. I just don't think I can knit another cabled sweater in cotton for a while, though, so I will have to find another yarn. My gauge wasn't spot on, but that's OK. This is a sweater to grow into and then out of (my niece did so with her first one, which is now being worn by her baby brother). Great pattern - this is the fourth time I've made one. Can't wait to meet my nephew and hope to get a picture of both kids in their Aran Pullovers over Thanksgiving.

    Free Pattern: Cable Luxe Tunic

    Lion Brand is starting their next KAL, and it's with the Cable Luxe Tunic. You can find the free pattern here until 27 November 2008. I've had this one in my queue since February, so I'm excited about this, though I'll have to wait until after Christmas knitting is finished. (And there's a lot of that at the mo'.) Have to decide what yarn to use, perhaps some stashed Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed, though I'd probably have to tweak the numbers, since it's a DK yarn. But folks on Ravelry have found this yarn to grow upon blocking, so maybe. Or I have some O-Wool that's been marinating in the stash for a while, just not sure it's enough, but the cables would certainly pop in that yarn.

    Anyway, go download that pattern while you can, but be sure to read it the whole way through. Lots of folks on Ravelry had issues with it because they hadn't read ahead.