Obsidian's Maze

Collide.com Early Eclipse Movie Review

2010-11-21T11:25:00.001-08:00

I saw post on the front page of Twilighters.org where Collider.com is looking for someone to review an advance Blu-ray copy of Eclipse prior to its December 4, 2010 release date.

Anyone who reads my blog knows that I am not only a yarn crafter but also a big Twilight fan :) I love the books and movies, but at the same time I recognize the Twilight Saga for what it is...ENTERTAINMENT. I accept the good, bad, and corny things about the series and still love it. Although I love the series, I know that I could give a good review of this film without just saying that "Twilight movies are the best movies ever" (which is obviously not true). If I am chosen, I would not disappoint. I would give a thorough review with the good and the bad associated with the film. I will keep my fingers crossed and hope that I get picked ;)

Spinning Continues, but Christmas Crafting Looms....

2010-11-20T18:59:00.001-08:00

Spinning on the spindle continues with me spinning at least 10 minutes a day. It has been working so far to get me to spin a little everyday. I have not used Minerva since I put her together last weekend because I need to get some oil for her. Lame, I know, but work has kept me from getting to the fabric shop to get oil. That will change this weekend ;) I am going to get some oil and take her for a spin this weekend. My goal is to spin on my wheel at least 2-3 days a week since I can only do it at home until I get a bag for her.

So I have been spinning some Louet Corriedale top (natural color) and some Bad Kitty Superwash Merino (Midnight color mix). Of course I am still knitting and crocheting for Christmas, but will I finish in time? Who knows...

My First Handspun and Wheel!!!!

2010-11-10T18:44:00.001-08:00

I finished my first handspun yarn! I am so proud :). I spun up the 4 oz. of Romney that I got in Hawaii on my drop spindle. I did a 2-ply and set the twist. It took 2.5 hours to ply this yarn on a drop spindle. I repeat 2.5 HOURS. Of course I was watching Twilight while I did it so it was not horrible, but still my arms were killing me by the time I finished.

This yarn will become a pretty bag for my new SPINNING WHEEL that my sweetie just got me for an Wedding Anniversary/Christmas present :). My spinning wheel's name is Minerva after the Roman goddess of wisdom and arts/crafts. I thought it fit nicely.

My spinning is coming along, but I still have a lot to learn. Of course my yarn is still thick and thin, but it is getting better ;). I LOVE spinning!

I Learned to Spin Yarn!!!!!!

2010-10-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

I did the very thing I said I would never do...learn to spin yarn. When I got 4 oz. of Romney sheep fiber from Hawaii, I was resolved to at least try spinning so I could spin it up to make something for myself. I absolutely LOVE spinning!!!!!! I went to Upstairs Studio in LaPorte, Texas to spend a day learning how to spin last Saturday. Upstairs Studio is an AWESOME yarn shop that also carries beautiful fiber :D I started with a drop spindle (LOVE IT), then quickly moved to a wheel. There is something very liberating and cool to be able to spin fiber into yarn. A spinning wheel is definitely in my future although I will continue to use my drop spindle too (very portable). Don't get me wrong, I will still buy yarn, but I will really have to want it to make something specific. Now I am building my fiber stash ;)

Maluhia Farm and Hawaii!!!!!!!

2010-10-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

I spent the remainder of September getting ready for our first vacation in 6 years. The last vacation my hubby and I went on was our honeymoon. Way to long ago. I promised him that we will go on a getaway at least once a year from now on ;) I will talk about the yarn first, then if you want to know a little about the rest of our trip then keep reading...

Romney Handspun, YAY!!!!!!!
I could not find a yarn shop in Kona prior to our trip online, so I went on a search for local Hawaiian yarn on Ravelry and Google. Maluhia Farm also known as the Hawaiian Homegrown Wool Company (HHWC) is AWESOME! Jan and her husband raise Romney Sheep and shear them for beautiful wool. Jan spins it up and sells them at various farmer's markets on the Big Island. I contacted her the week before we came and asked her if it would be OK for us to visit the farm in Honokoaa. She said that we could and gave us very good directions to get to her from Kona. Once we got there, she gave us a tour of the farm and I got to see the sheep! I also bought some of her beautiful handspun and 4 oz of fiber. I will admit that I do not know how to spin yet, but I am going to take my first spinning class (drop spindle) this month. I want to spin this pretty fiber into yarn for socks :D I also have to find a pretty pattern to use the handspun yarn. I am so glad I got to meet Jan, her husband, and to see all the pretty sheep. Thank you, Jan!

Remainder of Hawaii Trip...
The coffee was AMAZING (Kona Coffee and Kau'u Coffee). I will never feel the same about Starbucks again...
We stayed at the Hawaiian Oasis Bed and Breakfast Inn for 6 days in Kona, which was AMAZING! The breakfasts were so phenomenal and filling that we did not have to eat lunch the entire time we stayed there. I would recommend this inn to anyone who is going to vacation on the Big Island. We ate all types of exotic fruits at breakfast each morning including; Rambutan, Lychee, Dragon fruit, Star fruit, Passion fruit, Papaya, and of course REAL Pineapples with breakfast each morning. It was fabulous :) Darla & Peter (owners), and Matt run the place, cook these fantastic meals, and are all around awesome people. We will be staying there when we go back to the Big Island (and we will).

We went to...
-Beautiful beaches where the water was actually BLUE or Blue-Green, not poo brown.
-A luau at the Waikoloa Marriott Resort. It was corny, but the dancing was nice. This was the only "tourist" thing we did while on vacation ;)=
-Volcano National Park...Amazing, although the sulfur stench was enough to make anyone's nose hairs run for cover...
-The Aloha Farmer's Market at the King Kamehameha Hotel Beach Lawn was very nice. We bought 100% Kona and Kau'u Coffee from local farmers and natural bath products from a local vendor who made them. Everything is fantastic!
-Ate at some awesome local restaurants. When you see the local people eating there, the food is good ;)
Island Lava Java Grill
Big Island Grill
Pau
Jackie Rey's

It was our first time going to Hawaii and we enjoyed every moment of it. We are glad we chose the Big Island because it was not a "tourist trap". Our goal is to visit all the Hawaiian Islands at least once. But, the Big Island will always be our favorite and the one we will repeatedly return to in years to come.

Sockupied is Sock Heaven

2010-09-08T18:36:00.000-07:00

Interweave has done it again. They gave delivered yet another stellar magazine, except this time it is for sock knitters :D

Sockupied is an interactive magazine that you purchase and download to your computer complete with video tutorials, interviews (Cookie A. is AWESOME), and some cool sock patterns. There is a MAC and PC version of this magazine. For all you "sock-obsessed" knitters, this is the magazine for you. The only improvement that could be made to this magazine is to have more sock patterns in the next issue. This issue only had 3 sock patterns, which is not much for a voracious sock knitter. I know that some people have been put off by the price ($14.95), but considering that it is an interactive e-magazine with multiple videos embedded into the magazine, the price is reasonable.

Although I am still a new sock knitter, if this magazine became a regular for Interweave I would definitely buy it again.

When Knitting Fails--Knit Mug Shots

2010-09-03T20:15:00.000-07:00

Of course these were highlighted on Regretsy, but these are some of the WORST knitted items I have ever seen. WTF is the creepy kid doing pointing to a pie? It looks like knit family horror portrait. Are these people getting ready to rob a bank? Or scare the neighborhood kids? Maybe a little S&M bondage? Maybe all three? I know at this point, all they are doing is scaring knitters worldwide.

M. Knit Shyamalan:

Call For Muckery:

Knitting in the Dark = Epic Knitting Fail

2010-08-29T18:51:00.000-07:00

When Knitting Fails...

I have been practicing knitting in the dark by decreasing the light I knit by at home while watching TV. Why am I trying to learn how to knit in the dark you ask? So I can knit in the movies and "multi-task". Well, I had an "epic knitting fail" last night at the movie theater...

My hubby and I were watching a UFC fight last night (Couture v. Toney--Of course gorilla man lost) at the movie theater and I brought a vanilla sock in progress. I was using the Magic Loop technique and I figured it was simple because it was a toe-up sock. I was still knitting on the foot portion so round and round knit stitches. Apparently the dark and my brain could not function together :( I had knit about 10 rounds when I felt a hole in my knitting where a hole was not supposed to be. I stopped knitting at the point because I knew there would be screams of frustration in the future. When I got home and looked, I had 3 areas of dropped stitches in my sock that went down at least 4-5 rows :-(

Since I could not fix it, I had to rip the whole sock out :( Starting over...AGAIN. I am using the Gusset Heel Basic Socks pattern out of the book, Socks From The Toe Up. This is my first time using the Magic Loop technique. It is not hard, but as Jasmine of the Knitmore Girls says, I have been having "pretty days" every time I work on this sock...

Knitter Who Crochets

2010-08-25T17:24:00.000-07:00

I am a "Knitter Who Crochets". I never thought I would say that, but it is true. Especially since I taught myself to crochet first...

When I started going to a knitting group early last year, I saw a few ladies fiddling with 4 or 5 small needles that held "yarn tubes". I was totally awestruck and wanted to know what they were making. Of course they were knitting socks. From that moment on I wanted to learn to knit because I wanted to knit SOCKS. I thought DPNs were among the coolest things ever...of course I was right. Once I learned to knit, using a hat and scarf kit from Knitpicks, my second project was a pair of socks. Of course, I did not discover that I knit both socks using twisted stitches until after they were both finished. These socks of course feel slightly twisted when they are on my feet, but they are my first pair so they get a pass ;) Of course my second pair of socks came out ROCKIN’, so now I am officially hooked on knitting socks. I crocheted a sock once and hated the way it felt on my foot. I did all the appropriate measurements (gauge swatch) and the stitches still rubbed too much on my foot (yarn: Malabrigo Sock--soft). The sock made all my shoes feel really tight, so that was the first and last time I crocheted a sock.

When I realized I loved to knit socks and that I loved the way knitted sweaters looked (and that I want to knit a sweater), that was when I realized I am a “Knitter who Crochets”. I am not putting down crochet because it is very beautiful (especially for lace shawls, flowers, and toys), but there are things I would rather knit than crochet and vice versa. I am just glad I know how to knit AND crochet :D

Edward Cullen Row by Row

2010-08-13T16:34:00.001-07:00

I saw this on Ravelry in the Twilight Saga Fans group and just could not help but drool over it. Might have to add this to my ever expanding project queue. For all of you Edward Cullen Fans out there, get your tissues ready because of course we all know that he is totally drool worthy ;)

Dirty Deeds Done With Sheep

2010-07-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

So of course I was cruising through the Ravelry forums when I came across a naughty sheep video. I seriously laughed my tail off :D I guess this is how sheep "stick it to the man"...

Neverending Scarf and Cat Domination

2010-07-18T17:50:00.001-07:00

Scarves...

Most of us love to wear them, but knitting or crocheting is nice...for a while. Then one day it is the "Neverending Scarf". The Feather and Fan Scarf that I started knitting in February of this year as part of The Loopy Ewe Spring Fling KAL is still an UFO (unfinished object). It is very pretty so far, but it is taking FOREVER. I am using 2 skeins of the Tempted Luxe Grrl in Roxanne which are in the Twilight colors of red and black which makes it AWESOME :) The pattern is not hard at all, but it is tedious. I am on Row 263 and my 2nd ball of yarn. It will be beautiful when it is finished, but right now, it is a pain in my a$$...

We also got a little play toy for our cats and here is Mocha enjoying it. She won the territory battle that night and Cocoa was on the other side licking her paws ;)=

Finished Projects Galore!!!!!!

2010-07-05T13:12:00.000-07:00

Although I have been anxiously awaiting the release of Eclipse (seen it twice already), projects have been getting finished like crazy!

Since I am getting ready to start my Christmas knitting/crocheting, I am picking only 3 more items to make for myself until after my Christmas crafting is complete. They will be Bella's Mittens, Edward's Heart socks (of course), and a hot water bottle cover. I know the hot water bottle cover may sound a little weird, but I am sick of wrapping the bottle up in towels and since I am a knitter/crocheter, I will make myself a nice cover. Bella's Mittens and Edward's Heart socks satisfy my love of Twilight, so I am excited to make those as well.

Now on to the finished projects:

Cabled Swatch from The Loopy Ewe Spring Fling:
I took the Cables class with Wendy Johnson in April at the Spring Fling and she had us working on this swatch. I finished it after I got home. For my first cables project ever, it turned out really pretty :)

Baby washcloths for a friend's baby shower gift:

Blue Dishcloth:
This was the first project I started when I learned how to knit last year...I know, very sad. I have to admit the pattern was EXTREMELY boring so I just knit on it very sporadically until I finished it. It has mistakes, but hey, it is going to be used to wash dishes :P

Silver's Sock Class:
I finally finished my second pair of socks!!!!! I kept putting these socks down to make other things, so I knit on them when I got a couple of free minutes. Silver's Sock Class is a FANTASTIC class. They fit my feet and I have finally conquered Kitchener Stitch :D

Twilight Eclipse Mantle:
Here is a better picture of my first shawl in an awesome Twilight color :D

Now I have to get to work on my hot water bottle cover...

Twilight Saga Trilogy and Eclipse Review

2010-06-30T09:57:00.001-07:00

I got to see all 3 movies in the Twilight Saga last night and it was FANTASTIC!!! It was my first time ever seeing Twilight on the big screen because I boycotted the movie when it originally came out (I just did not understand then). Of course the Twilight Saga Trilogy sold out, so I was in a movie theater from 6:15 pm last night until 2:10 am this morning with women from 10-60 watching the object of our obsession. There were various Team Edward, Team Jacob, and Eclipse t-shirts worn by a lot of the women there. Of course, I wore my Team Edward shirt and Twilight buttons proudly:

I absolutely LOVED Eclipse! I thought the acting and the movie overall was much better than the other 2 movies. I will definitely be going to see it again very soon :D

I did finish crocheting my Twilight Eclipse Mantle Shawl, but I could not wear it to the theater last night because it was still drying :( Here are some preliminary pictures, but it is still damp. It turned out really pretty for my first shawl ever :D

Loved:
There were so many things that I loved in Eclipse, but these are my top 10…

1. All the vampires makeup and eyes--It actually did not look splotchy or thick this time. They also got the eyes right ;)
2. The love triangle--Although some of my favorites lines and scenes from the book were left out, they pretty much got the mood of the love triangle right. Edward (a little to intense at times, just like the books, but still TEAM EDWARD), Jacob (a total jackass, but accurate), Bella (indecisive, which got her into this mess in the first place)
3. More visual look at Alice and Jasper’s relationship--Their relationship shows that you don’t have to be slobbering all over each all the time to show that you love each other.
4. Victoria and Riley’s interaction--That is exactly how I pictured it when I read Eclipse when Edward was trying to tell Riley the truth about Victoria. Although I am not a fan of actors being changed in the middle of a series, Bryce Dallas Howard did a pretty good job and she was more in line with the book description of Victoria.
5. The training and battle scenes--Very exciting to watch! The sounds of the vampires getting torn to bits were awesome, not to mention the wolves in action :) LOVED ALL OF IT!
6. Charlie and Renee--He was hi-larious and she was endearing…exactly how I would have imagined them to be from the books.
7. Tent Scene--Although the Edward/Jacob argument was not as intense as in the books (missed the “fetch a space heater” and “St. Bernard” comments), they definitely got the mood exactly right.
8. Edward’s bedroom--It was yet again, pretty much how I imagined it from the books. Edward having to reign Bella in from “ravishing” him ;)
9. The Meadow scenes with Edward and Bella--So romantic and really reflected the love they felt for each other.
10. Bella telling Jacob her choice--Although the timing was poor in the book and the movie, the director definitely captured the anguish between Bella and Jacob when she visited him after he was injured in battle.

Hated:
1. Bella’s wig--It was AWFUL. I could clearly tell that it was a wig. It did not look natural at all.
2. Bree cameos--I know she was a part of the newborn army (and has her own short story now), but in Eclipse, she was not a vital part of the story. She did not even appear until the very end of the book. Her appearances should have been limited to the end of the movie.
3. Quilieute campfire and legends being cut short--This scene should have been a little longer along with more of the story being told. The interactions between the different wolves should have been shown in more detail.

Twilight, some of the best entertainment since sliced bread...

Run No More...Speed or Racewalking to the Rescue

2010-06-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

Work has been pretty busy lately, so posting has been a challenge. I have been knitting and crocheting quite a bit at night and during my lunch break so that has been good ;) I will post pictures of my works in progress within the next few days ;)

I started running/walking again in May of this year and kept it up for 3 weeks, but my knee started giving me trouble yet again. I also did the the first 2 days of the Insanity workout and that made my knee pain worse. My knee kept me from running the 2010 Aramco Half Marathon in January because I injured it during training in September 2009. Quick back story...I tore my medial meniscus in my right knee back in 2003 which was my first and only surgery. Ever since then, my right knee hurts when I do high impact activities for extended periods of time. I do Yoga and strength training and still I have the same problem with my knee.

As a result of the constant injuries, it has been a hard decision, but I am not going to run anymore because I need an exercise that is less stressful on my knees. When I was running, I loved the results, but NOT running itself. When I was honest with myself about how I felt about running, it made my decision to stop easier. I still like watching the sport of running, but I am tired of the injuries I sustain from doing it.

I am going to speed walk or racewalk instead. I love to walk and race, so I know that I will enjoy it and still stay in good shape.

Knitting and crocheting will be on the menu for next time ;)

Crochet Disaster...Pom-Pom Tribbles Attack

2010-05-28T16:26:00.000-07:00

I love to crochet. I think it is very beautiful when used for good. I was trolling through the Crochet Liberation Front Headquarters (CLF) forum on Ravelry when I ran into the thread "I'd Like to Report a Crime".

This Lion Brand Yarn pattern is indeed a crime to crocheters everywhere. WHY WOULD ANYONE MAKE THESE??? They look like the Star Trek Tribbles gone bad.

Pom-Pom Porridge Leg Fancy (AKA Tribble Gone Bad):

Star Trek Tribble:

Bronte Sisters Power Dolls

2010-05-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

The Bronte Sisters Power Dolls is a YouTube video I heard about from the Electric Sheep Podcast and on Ravelry. It is absolutely hi-larious and empowers women to trample over their male oppressors. Too funny!!!!!!!!!

Approaching...Twilight Eclipse!

2010-05-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

The knitting and crocheting for this week has been progressing. I am almost finished with the cuff on my second sock for Silver's Sock Class. Hopefully I will be finished with the socks by the end of this week. I am also crocheting some baby washcloths for a friend who's baby shower is the first weekend in June. I figured I will pair the washcloths with some nice baby bath products for a cute shower gift. I will post pictures of my progress next week so stay tuned...

Now onto my Twilight Obsession...

Okay, so I am a HUGE dork. The Eclipse movie release is only 35 days away and I am literally counting down. I have an Eclipse movie countdown App on my iPod Touch. Of course my hubby laughs at me for being a Twilight fan, but he reads comic books and collects action figures...he has no room to talk ;) I bought a ticket to go to the June 29th Twilight Trilogy Night at the Cinemark theater in my city with a couple of girlfriends who also love Twilight. All 3 movies (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse) will be shown in order starting at 7:15 pm through June 30th at 12:01 am when Eclipse premieres.

I bought the cutest vampire themed bag to take to the movie from Julip Bags on Etsty. I will store the essential snacks and knitting in there to keep me busy while I wait in line to get in the theater ;) It will also be a knitting bag/purse for regular use. A cool Twilight t-shirt or tank top will also be worn to the theater. I am going to try to knit or crochet a small shawl in a Twilight color to wear, but if I don't finish in time then I have a cute red wrap sweater that I can wear. I am Twilight fan and I don't care who knows it ;) A peek at Eclipse...

Twilight Swap Goodies, Finished Project, and Sneakers

2010-05-15T08:04:00.000-07:00

So last week was like Christmas in May for me :) I am in the Twilight gift swap on Ravelry. The theme for this swap was Team Edward vs. Team Jacob. Of course, anyone who knows me knows that I am totally Team Edward all the way ;) My swap partner, Booknutty, sent me the most awesome swap package! I was not having a good day at work and I came home to fibery goodies and vampire awesomeness! She knit me fingerless mitts!!! They fit perfectly and I just could not reset taking my own little "Twilight" shot wearing them ;)

Here is a list of the goodies in the package:
-Perfectly fitting fingerless mitts
-3 patterns: Monkey socks, My Vampire Boyfriend socks, and Traveling Woman Shawl
-Yarn: 1 skein of Alpaca with a Twist Socrates yarn, and a skein of dyed and handspun yarn (soooo pretty)
-Sour Patch Kids and a box of South Bend Dark Chocolates...all of which were eaten within 3 days...
-Alice Cullen choker (I am totally wearing this to see Eclipse)
-Awesome vampire box made to store my goodies (will definitely reuse this cute box)
I also spoiled Booknutty with the package I sent to her. She got hers on May 17th and absolutely loved it. I crocheted her a very pretty scarf using Malabrigo worsted in Holly Hock. Very pretty scarf :)

Trying to make time for running, yarn crafting, and everything else has been really challenging but I am trying to manage it. I got 2 runs in last week due to stuff coming up after work. Running at the beginning stages...SUCKS...but I will continue to run. It will get better the more I run ;)

Sock and Sock Club Goodies

2010-05-09T18:07:00.001-07:00

Socks and sock yarn has been the highlight of the past week.

The mailman has been good to me for a change. Sometimes I think he is having his afternoon "spirits" before delivering my mail. Sometimes my mail gets delivered early, and other times it is very late evening before he pulls up to the mailbox. I think everyone in the neighborhood wishes that a stray dog would pee on his leg or something while he is filling our mailboxes one day for being a sucky mailman, but I digress...

My sock club kits from Woolgirl and The Loopy Ewe were delivered safe and sound. These are the first 2 sock clubs I have ever been in and they have been a ton of fun :) This will definitely be a trend for me every year to join at least 1 sock club per year.

I finally took the time to work on my second pair of socks using Silver's Sock Class. This is an awesome online tutorial for first-time sock knitters. The pictures and instructions are excellent. You will be knitting socks in no time using her directions. I started this sock back in March, but I got sidetracked by other projects and it just kind of sat until I got back from the Spring Fling. I am almost finished with the first sock after working on it for a week. When I started working on it last week, I only had ~3 inches of the cuff completed.

The Woolgirl kit for April (but arrived the first week of May) was very cute. The sock yarn is in a color that I usually would not knit with, but it is so soft that I will probably knit the sock pattern that came with the kit. The February shipment was also a fantastic package.

Woolgirl Sock Club Kits:
February Kit

April Kit

The Loopy Ewe kit for May is just as fabulous as the February kit. The yarn is absolutely beautiful and I can't wait to knit the sock pattern included in the kit. The Namaste bags that came with the kit and are of course in the signature Loopy Red colorway :)

May Kit

Suffice it to say, I am officially hooked on socks ;)

Spring Fling Part III: Yarn Heaven

2010-05-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

This post really needs no introduction except:

YARN HEAVEN :)

I had to wait until the weekend to take these photos because I really wanted to show how beautiful the yarn is. This is the most yarn I have ever bought at one time, but boy was it fun :) I saved for 4 months to splurge like this, so I don't feel guilty at all :D I love everything that I have and it will all be made into something pretty for me...and there could be a pair of socks or two in there for the hubby...if he is nice...which he always is ;)

A little off-topic before YARN HEAVEN...
Bijouxmaster was always such the social butterfly when I was taking pictures, but I did not want to leave her out of my blog. She was hi-larious!

And without further ado, YARN HEAVEN:

Entire Loopy Ewe Spring Fling Haul:

The Sanguine Gryphon Bugga and Skinny Bugga from left to right Bess Beetle, Sangria Heart Butterfly, and Cowkiller:

Dream in Color Classy in Ruby River:

Sweet Georgia Superwash Merino Sock Yarn from left to right in Boysenberry and Fondant:

Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Vermillion:

Fiber Optic Foot Notes in Sapphire Batik:

Dyeabolical in Color #162 (purchased from Knitorious on my first day in St. Louis):

Wollmeise purchased from another lovely Flinger who wanted to find a good home for it...namely mine!

Spring Fling Part II: Flinging Knitters

2010-04-28T18:53:00.000-07:00

This post contains a lot of photos...

Since I took over 100 pictures at Spring Fling 2010, I figured that I needed to do at least 3 posts to chronicle this FANTASTIC event :D Knitters, smiles, desserts, booze, and yarn...what more can you ask for?

Enough of my rambling and on to the photos...

My First Spring Fling: Yarn Love and Happiness Part 1

2010-04-26T07:04:00.000-07:00

The Loopy Ewe Spring Fling 2010...if I had two words to describe this past weekend it would be:

Yarn Love...

When I went to the Spring Fling in St. Louis, MO, I did not know anyone so I was a bit skeptical about how my weekend would turn out. Once I got there, I met some of the most awesome knitters ever! There were very few crocheters, but I am hoping that next year I can make some crochet converts ;)

I started out by going to Ted Drewes for frozen custard with a local knitter and (3) other fabulous ladies (one being from The Hague aka Den Haag). Frozen custard is a St. Louis staple, so having this was a real treat. It was so large I could not finish it, but boy was it good.

After this, we went to a local yarn store, Knitorious, that was simply too cute. We each bought at least 1 skein of yarn that we could not get at Loopy Central. I ended up with a skein of Dyeabolical sock yarn, that was too fabulous to pass up.

When we got back, to the hotel, we were greeted by the fabulous cupcakes from The Cupcakery and our Spring Fling Goodie Bags which were both FANTASTIC! I will post a better picture of the Spring Fling Goodie Bag at a later date ;)

My roommate, Hannah, was absolutely awesome! We were actually swap partners in my very first swap on Ravelry, so it was good to finally meet her :) The awesome Canadians and from Alaskans kept me laughing. There was plenty of laughs, desserts, food, knitting, and of course beautiful yarn for everyone. The rest of my photos are on in Loopy Ewe Spring Fling 2010 group on Flickr. I made so many new friends that I can't wait to go back to the Fling in 2011...keeping my fingers crossed that I get in ;)

My next post will have my lovely yarn and my class report ;)=

Now, a few more classic moments from my first Spring Fling...

My Impending Return to Running

2010-04-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

Almost everyone who has known me in the last 3-5 years knew me as a runner. That changed after a painful day in September 2009 when my running days ended...

I hurt my knee out of a chair (felt a snap) when I was in the middle of my training for the Aramco Half Marathon in January 2010. I spent the rest of September through November in therapy to heal my knee. After that, I lost my “running mojo”. I had surgery on this same knee (right knee) back in 2003 and did not want anymore injuries to it, so I made the declaration that I would not run and find something else to replace it. I felt ashamed and like a quitter, but I still did not run another step.

It has taken me 7 months to realize how much I truly miss and enjoyed running...

I was not a fan of 5 am runs (HATED them), running with other people who were just as crabby as I was at that time of the morning made it fun to endure. Especially the group breakfast right after a long run. The races, pictures, food, and running friends are all things that I took for granted until I took myself out of it. I did not realize how much it became a part of my life until I stopped.

Now I want to run again. I know that I am starting completely over with running because I have lost my fitness. I still exercise, mostly Vinyasa Yoga, but it is not the same as running. As a result, I know the first 1-2 months are going to suck really badly for me because I want to pick up where I left off (5K, 10K, half-marathons) and I know I can’t do that until I have a good running base first.

So I am looking at either the Couch to 5K or The Runner’s World 8-Week Beginning Runner’s Training programs to get me back into running.

I bought a new pair of running shoes yesterday from On The Run when I realized that I wanted running back in my life...

It is going to be quite a journey ;)

4 AM Ramblings

2010-04-05T02:03:00.000-07:00

So it is after 4 AM and I am still awake due to my working rotating 12 hour shifts at my job until April 15th. I am working Night shift from 4:30 pm to 4:30 am starting on Tuesday, so I am trying to prepare for that. This shift work is due to the "vast intelligence" of management to put all the process engineers on shift when the issues have been mechanical and electrical in nature. This shift work is negatively impacting my family, knit/crochet, reading, exercise, and Yoga time. But I digress...

I am still working on my Feather and Fan Scarf by Wendy Johnson. It is coming along, but it is definitely slow or at the "black hole of knitting" phase right now. I am also still working on a pair of socks from Silver's Sock Class, but it is also going slow due to the fact I am still working on the first sock.

I have a friend who is having her baby shower in May, so I will crochet her a few washcloths (quick project) and give her a little Burt's Bees baby gift set. Since she is a crocheter, I know that she will appreciate the handmade gift. Since my time is at a premium, I will only knit or crochet for a very limited number of people who will actually appreciate the time, effort, and cost of the yarn. I am going to mostly knit for myself with one of my goals being to replace most of my socks with handmade socks ;)

Random things...
1. Just finished listening to the audiobook of Wuthering Heights(one of my favorite books)and reading Murder She Meowed (Mrs. Murphy Mystery)
2. Reading Eat, Pray, Love
3. Only 17 days till The Loopy Ewe Spring Fling (4 day knitting retreat and much needed vacation for me)
4. 85 days till the Eclipse release!!!!!!!!

Something for all my fellow Twilight Fans:

Noro Frogged and Current WIPs...

2010-03-23T18:30:00.000-07:00

It has been crazy these past few weeks so I have not had a chance to blog very much about my knit and crochet projects.
First, the project that got tossed in the frog pond... The Noro Striped Scarf I was working on for The Loopy Ewe Spring Fling Jared Flood March KAL has been thrown into the frog pond. I hated the yarn and the pattern, so I finally let it go to work on something I do like :) Noro is a yarn I never want to work with again. I do not like the yarn because it is too rough on my hands and the excessive vegetable matter was getting on my nerves...

I finished crocheting my second Cuddle Mat for the second cat cage. I used Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted and it is actually soft even with the acrylic. It is already "Kitty Approved :)

My current list of WIPs is pretty short, but they are keeping me busy.

Feather and Fan Scarf:
A pretty pattern, just have to finish it ;) The yarn is a merino/cashmere/nylon blend from Tempted Glam Grrl in Roxanne. It is super soft and a joy to work with.

Silver's Sock Class:
Since my last pair of socks had twisted stitches, I figured that practice makes perfect :) The yarn is a merino/cashmere/nylon blend from Yarn Pirate. It is sooo pretty. Can't wait to wear these socks.

Although I am not knitting these projects as fast as I would like, I am enjoying the journey of knitting them.

I hope your WIPs are moving along too ;)

Eclipse Trailer and Sneak Peek

2010-03-13T15:04:00.001-08:00

The Eclipse Trailer and a Sneak Peek are out on YouTube! Only 108 days and counting...

I cannot wait to see Eclipse :) Don't forget that New Moon will be out on DVD and Blu-Ray on March 20th (I already reserved my copy) ;)

Eclipse Trailer:

Eclipse Sneak Peek:

March WIPs and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

2010-03-07T00:04:00.000-08:00

Figured I could make a quick post before my eyes closed for bed ;)

So I currently have 4 WIPs (Works In Progress); 3 knit and 1 crochet. I am also planning my next 4 projects which will be split evenly between Knit and crochet. I will write in more details about my WIPs in another post.

Watched Act 1 of Dr. Horrible tonight on my iPod Touch and it was hilarious! Dr. Horrible and Moisture are two of the most inept villains ever :D
Dr. Hammer is a sorry a$$ good guy but I guess sometimes quality good guys are limited ;)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch

Crossing the Ravelympics Finish Lines!

2010-02-28T11:09:00.000-08:00

I finally finished my Ravelympics projects! My Feather and Fan scarf is still on the needles and will not be finished until right before TLE Spring Fling, but I will finish it. I had to change my original crochet project from the Vanillee cote-de-maille because the yarn and pattern hated each other. I finally learned what people mean when they talk about the yarn and pattern not being compatible. This project ended resulted in the "February Frogging Debaucle of 2010". I will make this crocheted cowl, but later this year with a different yarn and not on a deadline.

On a lighter note, here are pictures of my finished Olympic projects:

Team Twilight: Twilight Coffee Sleeve--Platter Lift Event:

Team Manic Purl: Crochet Cowl--Scarf Super G Event:

I just finished the coffee sleeve today, and the cowl was completed last week. Just glad to be done! I am an official Ravethlete :D

Twilight Movie...Why I Like It

2010-02-20T15:54:00.000-08:00

I have been ridiculed for liking the Twilight movie. I have been asked countless times, "Why do you like it?". It started out as a "bad movie" night rental and now I absolutely love the Twilight Saga ;)

Well...Twilight appeals to me because of the love story :) Did the movie have corny moments? Yes. Was some of the acting highly suspect? Definitely. But despite all that I still love the movie.

Below are some of my favorite moments...

1. Edward seeing Bella for the first time in Biology class...absolutely priceless.

2. Edward and Bella in the meadow...it truly shows the depth of their love (and obsession) for one another.

3. The Cullens first appearance on the lunchroom and Bella's immediate reaction to Edward. Even before she met him, she was drawn to him and vice versa...even if it was the scent of Bella's blood and the fact that he could not read her that first attracted Edward.

4. The first night Edward stayed in Bella's room (and especially the kiss).

5. The first night Bella dreamed of Edward and he was actually in her room.

6. The baseball game...very cool.

Just wanted to obsess a little over one of my favorite book series :) Say what you like, but it is a good love story even with the whole obsession thing going on :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch

Ravelympics Part II...

2010-02-13T07:40:00.000-08:00

Ravelympics is an event on Ravelry that runs in parallel with the Winter Olympics every 4 years. Knitters, Crocheters, Spinners, and etc. all compete in various events that will challenge them in their chosen craft. All projects have to be started during the Opening Ceremonies (February 12th) and finished before midnight on the last day, Closing Ceremonies (February 28th). Some teams even give out prizes at the end.

This will be the first year that I will compete in the Ravelympics. I am on Team Twilight and Team Manic Purl. Team Manic Purl is giving out some yummy prizes, so I am very excited about that. I am not sure if Team Twilight is giving out prizes, but since I LOVE the Twilight Saga I had to be a part of this team :D Since I am already working on a Wendy Johnson scarf for The Loopy Ewe Spring Fling February KAL, I kept my Ravelympics projects small. Here is a list of the projects I am working to finish by February 28th:

1. Feather and Fan Scarf (knit)—February KAL

2. Twilight Coffee Sleeve (knit)—Team Twilight; Palette Lift event (no picture yet, but this is a very short project and I will probably finish this first)

3. Vanillée cote-de-maille (crochet)—Team Manic Purl; Scarf Super-G

This year, I am not only trying to get faster at crocheting and knitting, but I also want to finish my projects before the 6 month mark which has been pretty typical for me. It will be a stretch for me to finish 3 projects in a month, but I am up for the challenge ;)

Ravelympics Cast-on Today!

2010-02-12T04:53:00.000-08:00

Today is the Ravelympics mass cast-on at 6:00 pm :) It is my first time participating and I am so excited!

I only have time for a quick post this morning, but I will post again later tonight or tomorrow about my projects after the Ravelympics cast-on party at my LYS (Local Yarn Store, Yarns 2 Ewe :D

Go Team Twilight! Go Team Manic Purl!

Happy Knitting...

First Pair of Socks FINISHED!!!!!

2010-02-03T19:47:00.000-08:00

So I finally finished the Sock Pattern to End All Sock Patterns! My first socks! But I finished them February 2nd, not January 31st like I originally planned :( Just glad that they are finished no matter how many mistakes they have. I actually have more mistakes in the second sock than the first sock. I think it is because I was trying to rush to finish by the deadline that I ended up missing anyway.

Second Sock Fiasco...
The second sock was just one issue after the other. I had to re-cast on 3 times for the second sock due to a lot of dropped stitches on the cuff and wrong number of stitches. Not to mention the laddering, gusset holes, and the boot-leg Kitchener Stitch. But it is behind me and the next socks will be better ;)

Next projects on the agenda are going to be a scarf (TLE February KAL), cowl (Ravelympics--Team Manic Purl), and socks (Ravelympics--Team Twilight). More details on the next post ;)

Sock Progress and New Moon Withdrawal

2010-01-21T22:25:00.000-08:00

I completed the first sock for the Sock Pattern to End All Sock Patterns on January 17th. It actually fit my foot perfectly! I was shocked that my first full size sock came out so well, but happy at the same time. Admittedly, the heel and kitchener stitch were a challenge but I finally got them well enough to finish the sock. I had to used a square dutch heel instead of the heel called for in the pattern because I kept messing it up. The kitchener stitch is still a mystery for me, but I did it well enough for no holes to show up in the toe. I am now working on the second sock and of course I screwed up the cast on and dropped some stitches. As a result, I ripped and started over 3 times :( But now it is finally moving along. My goal is to complete this pair of socks by January 31st and I am going to meet that even if it means pulling some all-nighters of knitting ;)

I am having New Moon movie withdrawal. I am of course counting down to the March 20th release date so that I can be one of the first to get the New Moon special edition Blu-Ray DVD. I have read through the Twilight Saga 3 times and want to read them again, but I am going to restrain myself to only reading Eclipse again right before the movie comes out in theaters on June 30, 2010.

Of course I am TEAM EDWARD all the way, so in honor of him this is one of my favorite quotes from New Moon:

"You smell just exactly as always,...So maybe this is hell. I don't care. I'll take it".--Edward Cullen

Sock Pattern to End All Sock Patterns Progress

2010-01-14T19:02:00.000-08:00

I needed to post something, even if I am not pleased with my project progress...

For the Loopy Ewe Spring Fling January KAL, I cast on for the Sock Pattern to End All Sock Patterns by Anne Hanson. I started these on January 1st and of course got stuck at the heel. I got some help from some of the ladies at my local yarn shop knitting group so the heel is different than what the pattern called for, but now I am not sure if I like how it is looking. I am debating if I am going to rip it back to the beginning of the heel and start the heel again. So, here is picture of my sock...

You will see next week if I decided to finish this or to frog ;) Happy knitting/crocheting...

1st Knitted Christmas Stocking

2009-12-31T19:05:00.000-08:00

So I just finished knitting my very first sock! I received the "Loopy's Red Sock Kit" as a free gift with one of my orders and I figured this would be a good first sock to learn the basics of knitting a sock. Well it actually turned out well for me to be self taught via written instructions and YouTube videos ;)

Using DPNs (4) was actually a lot less scary than I thought it would be :) I have already selected the socks I will knit starting January 1st for The Loopy Ewe Spring Fling KAL hosted on Ravelry. The pattern is the Sock Pattern of All Sock Patterns by Anne Hanson. These will be my first full size pair of socks so I am really excited.

I am officially hooked on knitting socks :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch

Twilight Saga Love :)

2009-12-18T07:58:00.001-08:00

My obsession with the Twilight Saga began with "bad movie night" back in early November 2009. My husband and I rent bad movies sometimes just to laugh at them. Think Mystery Science Theater 3000 (aka MST3K)...

Anyway, we rented Twilight and...despite myself...I actually liked it even with all the "cheese". I really loved the story and as a result I signed up for Audible.com to get Twilight as my first free audiobook. I finished listening to it within 1 day. I then bought the audiobook of New Moon and finished it within 2 days. I listened to both books TWICE before going to see New Moon on November 20, 2009 :). I then went out and bought the boxed set of the Twilight Saga. I finished reading Eclipse and Breaking Dawn in 7 days. I would have finished sooner if I did not have to go to work ;)

I just finished Twilight for the 3rd time and now reading New Moon for the third time...also listening to Breaking Dawn (2nd time). I bought the Blu-Ray DVD of Twilight and I also have it on my iPod. The Twilight soundtrack and movie score is also good (have those too) ;).
Planning to see New Moon (LOVE IT) for the 3rd time this week.

I never thought I would say it but I Love the Twilight Saga and I am totally Team Edward ;). Biting my nails waiting for Eclipse...

Finished KnitPicks Hat and Scarf!!!!!!

2009-12-18T07:40:00.000-08:00

FINALLY, I have finished the Learn to Knit Hat and Scarf set from KnitPicks :) I started this project back in October and finished seaming up the hat last night. For my first completed knitted project, I think it turned out pretty good. The knitting portion was fun, but weaving in the ends and doing the Mattress Stitch on the hat were not but I got them done. Blocking was extremely easy and made a huge difference in the appearance of the hat and scarf.

I made the promise that I would not work on anything else until I completed the few Christmas gifts I was knitting. Well, now I can finally learn how to knit socks, knit a new scarf, and finish crocheting mats for my cats cages :)

Happy knitting and I will post some new pictures of my knit and crochet mishaps soon :)

New Camera and Finished Projects

2009-10-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

I finally got a new digital camera!!! It is a Canon Powershot SD1200 IS and it takes really nice pictures. Now I can take pretty pictures of what is on my needles and hooks ;)

My latest completed projects are the Ruffled Corset Belt and the Athenian Scarf...

The Athenian Scarf is going to be a Christmas gift for someone...I don't want to say who in case they are reading this ;) This was my first time ever working with Broomstick Lace in a project and the results are stunning in the Malabrigo. Due to the width and length of the scarf, it can also be worn as a shawl with a nice shawl pin.

The Ruffled Corset Belt that I spent FOREVER working on is extremely cute, but since I have lost weight I can no longer fit the belt :( I am THRILLED to lose weight, but sad that the belt won't fit. Since I don't know how to cut, unravel, and rewind yarn yet I will just have to find a lady who can actually fit it. I like this belt so much that I might remake it in a smaller size for myself ;)

Stress relief at its finest...

Hooking and Picking for Christmas

2009-09-24T04:29:00.000-07:00

My work schedule is still not completely down to normal hours, but it is better than it has been in over a year and I am VERY thankful for that. I am on a mission to try to post to my blog at least once a week starting todayJ I am still running for exercise, but working it into my schedule has been a challenge. Today is hooking and picking, not running!

As far as my crocheting goes, I am working on a beautiful broomstick lace pattern scarf and my first pair of socks. For the scarf, I am using Malabrigo worsted merino wool yarn in Vermillion…currently on my 3^rd (and last) skein…yikes! For the socks, the yarn of choice is Malabrigo superwash merino wool sock yarn in Caribeno. The scarf is almost finished, but the socks still have a little ways to go. I am still on sock #1 after 2 weeks but I know that if I had a full weekend to myself I would finish the one sock and get halfway through the second.

I just learned how to knit at the end of August so I am still very new to the craft. One of the main reasons I learned to knit is because I have an obsession with socks and sweaters and wanted to start making my own. I am currently working on some dishcloths, using Peaches N’ Cream cotton yarn, for my first project. Since I know how to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off, I will be adventurous and knit a scarf and hat for one of the Christmas presents I will give out this year. I ordered the Learn to Knit kit from Knit Picks that includes a hat and scarf pattern, enough yarn for both garments, along with (2) size 10 (10”) Harmony Wood knitting needles. If I like the needles, then I will order a whole set of these needles ;) I have an abundance of crochet hooks, but not a lot of knitting needles (currently only 2 sets).

I figured since I am making Christmas presents for some people this year that I would at least make 2 things for myself in the process. For me, it will be a pair of crocheted socks and knitted socks (I will learn on DPNs first) J I will post pictures once I get a new digital camera…

For the Love of Yarn...Crochet, Knit, and Yarn Thing

2009-08-16T19:17:00.001-07:00

Well, I am back after a bit of a hiatus. Since I am not in graduate school anymore, I now have more time to focus on things that I love to do like crochet, read, and run. I finally completed the Ruffled Corset Belt from Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker. I started this belt on Christmas Eve 2008 and I just finished it on August 14, 2009 (I will post a picture by next week--camera is broken). Basically, I did not have the time to do it. Life just kept getting in the way unfortunately.

I have been thinking about getting back to crocheting and learning how to knit since the beginning of this year. So, last week I started looking for a podcast on crocheting and knitting. I found Yarn Thing!!! The host, Marly, is absolutely hilarious, informative, and has a great passion for both crocheting and knitting. I started listening to her podcast (older episodes first) just to get some encouragement to finish the belt. Yarn Thing is my favorite podcast about crocheting and knitting because she talks about the joy of both. And honestly, the podcast title is very fitting...it is not a crochet thing, or a knitting thing..."It's a Yarn Thing" ;) I HIGHLY recommend finding her podcast on iTunes or Blog Talk Radio/Yarn Thing and listening in. Marly will keep you laughing and give tons of good crocheting and knitting tips.

I also finally learned the first 3 stitches of knitting this weekend (i.e. long cast on, knit stitch, purl stitch). I still have a long way to go, but I want to make some socks ;) Although I am learning to knit, crochet will always be my first love. I will be a crocheter who knits :)