a year in stitches

THANK YOU!

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:50:00 +0000

For all your well wishes.

I just finished my solo interview and A.K. is going through his as I write this. Next up... the home study.

I'm kind of freaked out about the home study, even though our social worker said it isn't a big deal. Just make sure to have plenty of smoked detectors and a fire extinguisher. Still, it's no fun being judged.

I've been trying to spruce up our house in preparation. Yesterday, instead of doing any real cleaning up, I made pillows. I'll post photos soon. Just wanted to check in and say thanks to all of you. A.K. and I really appreciate you taking some time to wish us well.

my secret project ...

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:46:00 +0000

So I've been talking about drowning in paperwork and being vague about what I've been up to, but I guess now is as good a time as any to spill the beans.

A.K. and I are in the process of adopting a kid!

I haven't been very forthcoming with this detail because right now, it's just paperwork and the kid part (a.k.a. the fun part) won't happen for quite a while and I just didn't really want to deal with all the 'How's the adoption stuff going?' because it doesn't look like anything right now.

But in prepartion, it's time I did some destashing. Because what is now my crafting room will become the baby's room.

And this is where you can help me out. I set up a store on Amazon. The highly coveted Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt is amongst the items for sell. I would really love to keep it, but adopting a kid ain't cheap and it's a big book and takes up some valued real estate.

So if you have been wanting this book, a really pristine copy of this book, or any other really pristine copies of the books and magazines listed in the sale, feel free to email me and we can work something out. Or you can order through Amazon.

My seller site through Amazon.

And if you have some adoption tips or info, I would LOVE to hear them. Any wisdom you can pass along would be wonderful.

So as my friend Beverly pointed out ...

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:38:00 +0000

I haven't blogged in a while. To update you on what's been happening ...

A.K. got his wisdom teeth pulled. Except for some funky reactions to the Percocet, he did well. A thousand times better than I when I got mine taking out. I think the difference is having it done by an oral surgeon (the way A.K.'s had his taken out.) rather than by a Filipino dentist who's office is next door to a sandwich shop. (the way my parents' handled my dental care needs.) I was awake the entire time and can remember every painful detail of the extraction and the week of not being able to swallow my own spit.

Okay, that may have been too much information. Sorry.

I've been working on a sweater, but its one of those blanket-type sweaters that look like a long scarf with holes in the middle until you actually finish it, so really not picture-worthy at this point.

And...

I signed up to take a couture knitting class with Catherine Lowe! I'm super-excited, because I hope it means I'll be able to have all my knitting turn out awesome, instead of so-so when I put the sweater on because of my lack of knitting talent. You should check out some classes. But you have to hurry, because they are filling up fast.

Madrona Fiber Arts Winter Retreat

Also, my brother started his own blog. If you like surfing or surf boards or cute pics of my nephew and neice, you should check it out.

Just one more green thing

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:43:00 +0000

A.K. got his wisdom teeth (all four!) taken out a couple of days ago and I stayed home to help him get better. So I got to finish a Clapotis scarf and Lilly begrudgingly agreed to model.

Not green.

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:28:00 +0000

Lately everything I've been knitting has been green, and I thought I needed to break the green habit, so while I was in Portland a few weekends ago visiting a friend who just had a baby (a really adorable one), we took a short jaunt to a yarn shop and I got 10 skeins of the some pink yarn. Anytime I visit Portland I feel like I'm getting a deal, since there is no sales tax and the yarn was 40% off, so I thought I really couldn't pass it up, but now I'm not sure it is the right color for me.

You be the judge...

What do you think? I mean, it isn't green, so it has that advantage, but I'm thinking it would look fabulous if my skin color was a deep, rich mahogany, but since I am no Diana Ross, I'm not sure I can pull it off.

And what should I do if the color isn't right? eBay? Overdye?

What? I author a blog?

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:46:00 +0000

Really? Because you would think I would dust this thing off once in a while.

So the Telegraph Cove sweater. I was going to show you buttons. I thought I would show you buttons a lot sooner, but when I sewed them on and tried on the sweater, the fit was off. Then I looked at the sweater and realized I didn't do an entire set of decreases on the back. I'm such a dork.

So after ripping it back and fixing it, I present the Telegraph Cove sweater ...

and with buttons ...

I am still swamped in paperwork and have tons of things I should be doing other than knitting, but I'm going to make more of an effort not to ignore you.

I'm exhausted

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:27:00 +0000

Paperwork, more paperwork, a quick trip across the country, very little knitting, button issues.

I'm wiped.

I'll talk about the buttons on the Telegraph Cove sweater, I guess when I'm finally happy with the buttons, but just so this blog doesn't go completely to seed, I thought I'd post a photo of a blanket that I made for my neice, Miss S.

And while I'm at it, pics of my nephew, T.R. and his sister, C.R. at the zoo (I know it looks like a playground, but it was in the zoo) that I took on a really quick trip to Florida over the weekend

T.R. taking a photo of my mom and his sister.

Sliding away.

C.R. was fearless!

I got a dehydrated on the way back to Seattle. I guess getting very little sleep and running after these two in the 90 degree sun of Florida on a quick weekend trip cross-country will do that to a person. Or I'm just getting old.

Anticipation

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:53:00 +0000

Its September and this is what my tomatoes look like. This year is the first garden A.K. and I had since moving to Seattle and I am just not use to waiting so long for a ripe tomato. In North Carolina, I would be up to my eyeballs in red tomatoes, trying to can them as fast as I could to make sure none rotted. In the Northwest, I've been waiting all summer to have ONE, tomato to stick in a salad. My lettuce went like gangbusters, but the tomatoes have been slow. REALLY S-L-O-W.

Luckily, being from the South, I know how to make a fried green tomato. This is probably the part of the blog where I would include a recipe for fried green tomatoes, but really the name is really the recipe. You fry slices of green tomato. You may use flour or your favorite fry batter, but I think corn meal is best.

Speaking of green things, I finished the Telegraph Cove Sweater except for the buttons. Why are the perfect buttons so elusive? I've been looking everywhere for a great button, but I always end up using a mother-of-pearl button. I'm so boring. Here's a preview.

And I started a Clapotis with Garden Party that I got from Sundara.

I don't know why I started the scarf. I can't say I was particularly taken with the pattern, but I do like Kate Gilbert's work. I think I just needed a break. I've been drowning in paperwork.

I think I might have mentioned my secret project, which is a professional side venture, and A.K. and I are also working on a personal secret project. If either progresses, I'll share more, but for now I will keep things secret. So I just mention these things to explain why my blogging is erratic and why my photos are littered with paperwork.

I'm a loser, baby ...

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:50:00 +0000

This is the Van Dyke stitch. The only one I managed during the Olympics. I know, sad.

If you don't want to hear my excuses, skip the next few blocks of text ...

Michael Phelps
Dara Torres
Usain Bolt
Shawn Johnson
Nastia Lukin
Misti May Treanor/Kerri Walsh
Yang Wei
The 33-year-old German gymnast and her family story
The US Men's Volleyball and the tragedy of their coach's father-in-law's murder
The Chinese people during the Opening Ceremony
The Chinese people during the Closing Cermony
My job
A secret work project I've been working on
A secret personal project A.K. and I are working on

oh, and trying to finish the Telegraph Cove sweater. Yeah, I know, I haven't finished it, but, as with the swatches, it's kind of hard to pay attention when Michael Phelps has a race every 15 minutes and he wins by a fingernail.

Okay, enough excuses, I'll post photos of the sweater tomorrow, hopefully it will look like it's suppose to.

oh, and the Van Dyke stitch would make a very nice border. I think it would be a bit much for an entire sweater, but since I only knitted a swatch, I could be totally wrong. Also, I'm not sure why it's called the Van Dyke stitch, I assume it has something to do with Flemish art, although maybe it has to do with Dick Van Dyke and him always tripping. I just dated myself, didn't I. Well, I can say I saw Dick Van Dyke on Nick at Nite, not during its first run.

Okay, I'll shut up now.

Stitch 'N' Pitch at Safeco Field

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:06:00 +0000

The best thing about Stitch 'N' Pitch night is that it brings together two things I love. Baseball and yarn.

Best non-yarn, non-baseball related reason to see a Mariner's game. GARLIC FRIES!

And the M's managed to win.
RAAAAAAUUUUUULLLLLLL!

Recovering ...

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:27:00 +0000

... from crazy hours at work.

... from a pinched nerve that when flared up felt like someone had access to my finger, dipped it in a glass of water and then placed in an electrical outlet.

... from Scrabulous being taken down from Facebook.

So just when things seem to be settling down, I was listening to a podcast of Fresh Air.

After an enjoyable interview with Neil Patrick Harris, Terry Gross comes on and plays
Paul Anka's swing version of Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit.'

I think the pinched nerve may be back.

STAY-CATION all I ever wanted ...

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:40:00 +0000

I need a vacation from my vacation. I know all of you are rolling your eyes, and I know I would be calling my self a BI-OTCH right now, but I could use a week to just hang around my house and do a lot of nothing.

I even had an extra day in theory to 'do nothing,' but I had to do a week's worth of laundry and deal with insurance companies refusing to pay for my teeth cleanings. And, of course, I had to organize, tone and post photos from the trip. If I didn't have that extra day, lord only knows when that would get down.

Having some sympathy for me yet? I didn't think so. So as long as you still hate me, let me show you some pictures of my trip.

So now some knitting. Normally, I would have spared you the vacation photos and start with the knitting, but I needed them to explain why the following are photos of the High Neck Cable sweater and not the Feather and Fan sweater that I dubbed the 'Telegraph Cove' Sweater.

It was COLD. I know many of you are experiencing record heat, and again, the amount of sympathy you can extend to me is zilch. But I'm just trying to say I had no desire to pick up a holey, hemp sweater. I needed warmth. The kind you can get from wool. Specifically Manos Silk Blend. Or at least gore tech, which I failed to bring. The space in the luggage I should have packed a jacket I packed a bathing suit.

I hope this news brings a little smugness to your hearts. And soon I have faith, this will bring our relationship to a stronger place.

Things up my sleeve

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:57:00 +0000

It wasn't easy taking a photo of my progress, mainly because this sweater is knitted with the bodice in (more or less) one piece and then the rest is added on afterwords. So it ends up looking like a messed-up scarf or tubular blob. Which I guess is what it is right now. So just image the progress is going well.

In other news ...

Remember when this blog was about me trying to knit every swatch from "A Treasury of Knitting Patterns?" Yeah, I know. Which is why I decided when the Olympics start up in Beijing, I'm going to start some swatches. I know all about the Knitting Olympics, and this really is about the fact that I'll be parked in front of the television for 16 days and 16 swatches seems like a goal that I can accomplish. Who knows, maybe it will lead to me actually finishing my goal of swatching the whole book.

Also, I haven't done any spinning in ages. So during my vacation next week, I'm packing Victoria and some fluff along. There isn't a phone or television where we are staying, and I'm pretty sure that means there is no internet access as well. Because of this fact, I feel like I'm going to be bored out of my mind and so I'm also packing the laptop loaded with DVD rentals and have plans to work on my website. (of course, I can't actually upload anything because we will be in the middle of nowhere.)

I realize that I will be on 'vacation' but I really am lost without access to the Scrabbulous, or getting the answers to the New York Times crossword puzzle when I get stuck. I don't even remember life without Facebook. TV and phone I can take or leave, but I need the Internets (yep, both of them.)

And of course, I'll be taking my dog. Here's a photo of Lilly, in the interest of equal time for cute pet photos.

It's been so long ...

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:25:00 +0000

... since I posted and I don't have a good excuse. Just life.

I got sick and didn't seem to get better for two weeks. I think A.K. and I just kept exchanging germs so the bacteria sacked out and well, two weeks went by in a haze of cold medicine and tissue paper.

Our garden has taken off. This bowl of lettuce became a lovely goat cheese and pear salad with lemon tarragon dressing.

and these lovely little strawberries, coupled with a pint of store-bought ones turned in to a great strawberry sauce to top off a brownie sundae.

Other than that, I apparently didn't do any dishes ...

and I took a bunch of photos of my kitty.

I've made some progress on the Telegraph Cove sweater, but I want to reshoot the photos because they turned out awful. I need to make a hell of a lot more progress on it, since the sweater is named after the place A.K. and I are going to vacation THIS WEEKEND!

I swear, I need an extra week off from work just to prepare for my week off.

What I've been up to.

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:08:00 +0000

I have done a little knitting. I started the Feather and Fan sweater from Classic Elite Make It Modern booklet. Here's a shot of my progress.

In the rest of my life, there has been a flurry of activity.

This past weekend, A.K. and I had a little housewarming, since it was a year since we closed on our house. Actually, it was just a coincidence that the housewarming was on the anniversary of our closing. We are so bad at recognizing anniversaries, the only way we remember our own is it is only a few days after my birthday. (Our fifth was two weeks ago)

Anyway, the above photo is a before and after of our dining/living room. I know it's hard to see a difference except for paint color, but we ripped up the carpet, refinished the original oak floors, added a gas log fireplace, took out the radiator in front of the picture window and put a window seat with storage and cushions, took out the weird, built-in television hole and replaced it with custom bookcases on either side of the fireplace and right before the party, we just finished painting after smoothing the texture off the walls. That paint job signifies the end of a year-long renovation! I wish the photos look as dramatic as I feel about the room, but what can you do?

A.K. and his dad built a deck on the back of our house and A.K. made a great L-shaped bench to go with it. I'm pretty proud of us. If the weather in Seattle would just remain warm and sunny I could take beauty shots of the house. Maybe I'll be able to post some soon.

Malabrigio fans

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:52:00 +0000

Did you hear? The building where they keep the yarn went up in flames. I think we need to mourn the passing of some wonderful fiber.

You can see what happened here.

I (heart) Tuesday, FO edition

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:36:00 +0000

I had a great holiday weekend! I hope you did as well.

I went for a hike and then out to the Gorge to see Flight of the Conchords at Sasquatch.

But besides all that, I finished two projects, YEAH!

First up, Blithe.

Knitting Blithe was a breeze, but finishing it up was the bear of all bears! I'm not sure why, but when I tried to sew it up, the seam looked horrible. I must have ripped it back about 30 times. I even thought the fact that I only steam blocked it made a difference, so I washed it and let it air dry and, of course, it didn't make a damn bit of difference.

I finally crocheted the seams together, placing the right sides together, so the crochet chain is visible on the inside only. It's still not perfect, but 'good enough for government work.'
This is a look at the results.

And next, my first dress!

I had to do alot of ripping out of seams and I didn't fully understand what the sewing directions were telling me, but I think it turned out okay.

Well, except for the sleeves. I keep hearing Tim Gunn say "It looks like you are about to tell me the specials at Benihana."

Oy. So I think I will adjust the sleeves, then give you the details.

I heart Tuesdays, cancer edition

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Wed, 21 May 2008 04:41:00 +0000

There seems to be an unfortunate number of people that I know who are battling cancer. Seeing how this is suppose to be an uplifting post, I'll start out by saying that none of these people have succumbed to their illness.

And while I'm at it, I might as well add that I'm a cancer survivor. I was treated nine years ago for cervical cancer. I had a rarer form of the disease, so the vaccine you hear on the commercials wouldn't have prevented the type that I had, in fact my pap smears would come back clean as a whistle.

As I write this, I feel a little odd sharing this with the blog-o-sphere, mainly because I don't see myself as a cancer survivor. It isn't a part of my daily life now. I did have major surgery and I had to go through radiation and chemotherapy, but my chances of having cancer again are the same as if I had never had cancer at all, so normally I have only my yearly checkups and a faint scar to remind me of my illness.

But with a few of my family members, a few friends and a coworker dealing with the disease, I'm reminded of how cruel the disease can be. I was 26 when I was diagnosed. The oldest person in my circle affected by cancer is in her 50s. My coworker is pregnant and undergoing chemotherapy. She'll have to go through radiation after the birth of her child.

I wanted to share my admiration for these people. I went to a wedding on Saturday and the groom is a cancer survivor. My coworker is excited about the upcoming birth of her son. I saw my aunt a few months ago on her first trip to the United States and witnessed her and her sisters (one of whom is my mother) scream at the top of their lungs at the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland like they were teenagers.

I know this has been a long-winded, non-knitting related post, but I just wanted to let someone know about all these amazing people who have had some unfortunate luck lately.

So with these loved ones in mind I'm training for the Race for the Cure.

Thanks for making it through the whole post. I have been up to some stitchery and knitery, so I'll try and post so FOs soon!

I (heart) Tuesday, Robert Rauschenberg tribute edition

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:01:00 +0000

Robert Rauschenberg died.

Motherlode

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:12:00 +0000

I tend to buy a good deal of yarn in May. I think it all started during my first Maryland Sheep and Wool festival, which always take place the first full weekend in May. Then, when I moved to Seattle, my favorite yarn store, Weaving Works, has it annual Mother's Day Sale.

And obviously, I bought yarn. But what is different this May is that I went to the sale with projects in mind. (Crazy, I know.)

First up, this lovely Manos Silk.

Which I have slated for this.

I originally had designated some Louet Gems in an eggplant that I was in love with. Until I started knitting it and realized I would not wear it.

I really love the pattern, so eventually I will have the sweater in my wardrobe.

But first, I need to knit this sweater ...

with this pile of Hempathy.

Mainly because I'm taking a trip to do some whale watching in July and this sweater is the perfect thing to wear when one goes whale watching, don't you think?

I (heart) Tuesday, lo-tech edition

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:36:00 +0000

My inlaws were visiting with us last week. Actually, nine days, but it felt like a crazy whirlwind rather than what I was thinking when A.K. told me they were going to be here for nine days. Mainly because we got a new deck, grill and cushions for our window seat! My inlaws are the best!

I'll have beauty shots of the deck for the next post, but I have a cute teaser photo of my cat on the cushions!

Okay, now back to our regularly scheduled post.

I LOVE TECHNOLOGY! If I called people more often and didn't already own like THREE IPods AND have a 17" MacBook, I would soooooo have an iPhone. (oh, I left out the PDA that I use pretty much just so I can count my knit stitches. yeah, I'm THAT GIRL)

But the truth is, my life is ruled by scraps of paper. Receipts, little notes, post-its and I earn my living designing a newspaper. When I get concert tickets, I like the security of a paper ticket, and any important document (i.e. passport, mortgage papers) is still printed out. So this is my homage to paper ...

I got a thing for typography, being a designer and all, and I love the cover of this edition of James Joyce's "Ulysses."

I have a terrible sense of direction, really. When at a stoplight and I'm uncertain which way to turn, I go so far as to turn in the opposite direction that I want to go in, and this usually keeps me out of trouble. Maybe this means I'm a directional dyslexic, but whatever, it's a good thing for me to keep a map on me and this Moleskin is perfect. I can keep a list of all the yarn shops in the greater Seattle area and I have a map to make sure I make it there before the shops close. (on a side note, I'm very good with landmarks, so if I've been to a place once, I can usually find myself back, it's just the initial trip that messes me up.)

Okay, not paper related, but when I was taking the other photos, I thought I'd take a picture of my radiator. I'm not usually an ornate, scrolly person, but when we were looking at houses, one of the reasons I wanted the one we live in now is because of the radiators.

Oh, I got some knitting in during the visit, here's a photo of the back on Blithe. Hopefully it will be finished in the next few days.

I (heart) Tuesday, late edition (i.e. on Wednesday)

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:51:00 +0000

Sorry, I know I ...

a.) am late with my post (and I'm on deadline constantly for a living, so it feels really weird to blow one.)

and

b.) guilty of leaving you hanging about my big splurge.

So I apologize and give you these in hopes you will forgive me.

And now for my splurge ...

Can you tell what it is?

I got a new camera! Okay, a second-hand Nikon d-70 body from somebody on Craigslist, but it's new to me!

I'm still playing with it, since I wanted to be able to use my old lenses, I'm having to dust off that part of my brain that knows what the hell an f-stop and iso are.

The inlaws have been helping us around the house, namely A.K. and his dad are building a deck for our new house and A.K.'s mom is helping me make some cushions for a window seat. (I'm nervous about putting cording and zippers on the cushions.) Hopefully I'll get the hang of my new camera and take some great pictures. Or I can continue taking lame photos with my super-duper camera. Well see how things go.

I (heart) Tuesday, Bjork edition?

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:20:00 +0000

Normally, I don't understand Bjork, and honestly I don't understand this video for her song "Wanderlust," but I love it all the same.

Also, when I hear her name, I always think of the Swedish Chef from the Muppet Show.

I'm making a splurge purchase today (and if you know me, when I say splurge, I mean it.) and I'll do a little show and tell tomorrow!

National High Five Day

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:26:00 +0000

Did you know?

are you wearing your High Five tshirt?

i am.

I (heart) Tuesday, New Zealand edition

noreply@blogger.com (Veronica) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:56:00 +0000

STERIOGRAM'S WALKIE TALKIE MAN
Greatest video EVER that features mass amounts of yarn. Steriogram is a great New Zealand band. This song was used in one of the the iPod silhouette promos, but they should have shown this video. In fact, I bought their album before the iPod commercial because of this song.

Also this is the behind the scenes video about how they did it.

While I'm at it, I think I'm a Kiwi-phile.

My spinning wheel is an Ashford,

The New Zealand Merino is my favorite sheep,

I'm not-so-secretly crushing on Flight of the Conchords,

and who didn't like Lord of the Rings? (seriously, do I need to link to this? How about I link to Bret of Flight of the Conchords and his adventures as FIGWIT?