Yarn Party! *swims through yarn*

Fiesta Zia in Morrocan colorway
Originally uploaded by happyhandpainter.

We had an AWESOME sale at Threaded Bliss recently. 35% every yarn on the shelf, and 50-75% bags of yarn! Yours truly stayed just within her budget, and got many yummy things. To see photos of all of it, as well as photos of Mark and Me on a recent excursion to see my grandfather's house, click on the photo.

So, for $100 I got:

Three skeins of Fiesta Zia Handpainted Cotton in the "Moroccan" colorway (seen in photo). Original price: $79.50. On sale: $19
Three skeins Baby Kid Mohair in White (to make a snowy Galadriel-esque shawl!) Original price: $34. On sale: $21
One skein Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere Laceweight in an incredible deep purple/blue colorway. Original price: $35. On sale: $22
And my last, and best purchase: Thirteen balls of Merino dk from Debbie Bliss in Charcoal AND the book to match it. Original Price: $112 On sale for: $30!!!

I also got a knitpicks order a couple days ago, including the delicious Shine, which I would reccomend to anyone, even stodgy folks like myself who don't like cottons!

thanksgiving

thanksgiving
Originally uploaded by happyhandpainter.

Just a quick note to say.... HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Big sale at Threaded Bliss today, I hope I'll see some of you there!!

photos are uploaded

Bronwyn's underwater theme 3
Originally uploaded by happyhandpainter.

Hey, for those of you that commented or emailed, thank you! As promised, more photos are uploaded to my Flickr account. (Just click on the photo at right to be taken there.) I plan on taking more photos of individual paintings and sculptures over the next few days, so bear with me.

Also, I was wondering if any of you know how I can get those status bars that fill up that I see on other people's blogs. You know, it'll say "Kiri in Kidsilk Haze, 12% complete," and have a little bar with 12% filled in. I wanna get some for me too!

You'll be happy to know...

That my yarn spending has subsided a lot. Whenever I get stressed I buy, for some reason. It's comforting? Anyway, I need to break that, so the only things I've bought recently I either budgeted for (Handknit Holidays, to make the scalloped bag for several female family members) and things Mark and I talked about. We've been looking for some Mac adventure games for the flight, and when I saw Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb for $9 (the only copy available, sorry) and Alice (a twisted version of Alice in Wonderland, I am hoping it's similar to "Sanitarium") also for $9, I couldn't say no. $35 later I am two computer games richer and the book I need for Xmas gifts is on its way to me.

Not to mention my Knitpicks order from a few days ago, and the Jaeger Lux Tweed I ordered to make the Karabella Lace and Cables sweater.

By the way, I've got about 3 inches done on my Chamonix pullover. I ended up going with a simple bottom-up Sweater Workshop esque raglan, so I know it'll fit and I can shape however I damn well please, thankyouverymuch!

Of course, there's loads of schoolwork still to do, but we'll ignore that for now......

seahorse

seahorse
Originally uploaded by happyhandpainter.

This photo is so blurry it's almost useless to see with. I'll take some better pictures tomorrow, ok? It's one of the seven paintings featured in the show, FYI.

There is going to be a sale at Threaded Bliss on Friday (the day after thanksgiving), with some items REALLY on sale, like grab bags! I already budgeted for at least one item - enough Cascade Quattro in pale orange to make a hooded sweater (probably Rogue.) And maybe some Kidsilk Haze in Blushes to make a Kiri, but I haven't decided yet.

I'm not really making progress on anything else. I need something to take my mind off worrying about my passport tho... it still isn't here and we're leaving in 3 weeks. O_____O

THANK YOU GOD!!

Part of Bronwyn's art
Originally uploaded by happyhandpainter.

The show went off better than I could have ever hoped, thanks to help from my classmates (Michelle and Sher) and from Mark, my parents, and Professor Koenig. I got a lot of really positive remarks and ideas for how to improve the idea if I get the opportunity to do this again.

I did an underwater theme, with paintings of vague fish things sort of based on real creatures, but much of it coming out of my brain. I also knit and crocheted about 12 creatures, though I planned to make many more and still do.

I'll post better pictures as soon as I get a chance, ok? Speaking of making stuff, I'm gonna take a couple of hours today and work on Mark's sweater. It's only two weeks til his birthday and I want him to be able to wear it!! I also have to go get my emissions test and deposit some graduation money into savings (did you hear that, mom??) and of course... buy a little something for me. Probably enough Jaeger Luxury Tweed to make Salina from Rowan Vintage Knits, since I found a gal selling it for $2.50 a ball!!! And... maybe also some Peruvian Collection Baby Silk. But that's it! :)

Folk Socks Progress

folksocksprogress
Originally uploaded by happyhandpainter.

For the moment I am ignoring the senior show fears to blog about my current knitting project, the second pair of socks from Folk Socks. It's my goal to knit every pair of socks in this book by Christmas next year. Why? Because I like finishing things and setting goals, and I've bought a lot of sock yarn in the last year. The first pair are the Latvian Lace socks in Lorna's Laces Happy Valley. I think they're going to my mom for Christmas, but right now they're on my feet. See, when I blocked them they were so inviting, with their rainbowy happiness and soft hand... *sigh*

The current pair are the english garden socks (not sure if this is the exact name). I eschewed the color changes at the top, but I may still do a colored heel if I can find some more Jawoll in a matching navy or burgundy. This yarn is sort of scratchy on the ball, by the way, but knit up it forms a springy, even fabric with stripes I just love. I'm now done with the calf decreases and am on my way to the ankle, tho I've not decided how long to make them just yet.

My next pair of socks will either be out of Knitpicks Sock Memories in Cape Cod (to try out a different yarn) or Lorna's Laces Springer.

There's just been a tornado warning so I'm going to go cower in the bathroom with my socks, even though the cat doesn't seem too upset. It is awfully windy and quiet...!

it's getting down to the wire...

Five paintings, seven hours. Can I get it done? We'll see!

The installation must begin at 9:00 pm-9:30 pm depending on how long it takes me to spraypaint the pedestals.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. I'm not even thinking about future projects now, but I did make two dates to give me something to look forward to when the madness is over (besides the vacation, I mean!)

Date 1: My parents and I are going to have a dye party, and dye up all that merino laceweight I have so I have something to knit in NZ. I think this will be really fun.

Date 2: Mark's birthday. I got off work all day to spend it with him. I'm taking him to get a massage, then to the new Cheesecake Factory (must remember to budget for that!) then maybe to a movie? We'll see. Of course, gifts will be involved. And since we're doing Christmas with my parents at the same time, maybe there'll be some gifts in it for me, too!

See ya, I won't be posting til it's all said and done day after tomorrow (oh god!)

stash update!

jaeger Chamonix
Originally uploaded by happyhandpainter.

I forgot one thing - what I actually got stash-wise!

Cross your fingers for me please, I contacted a girl about purchasing her 10 balls Chamonix. I LOVE angora so I don't mind paying the (already inexpensive) price. The color is Marseille, a pale blue-grey, and I plan to make Cranberry (the sweater below) out of it. However, I am one ball short so I may make the belt and color with one ball of Orleans.

I also bought four balls of "ice blue" angora/wool on ebay. Too late did I realize it's angora GOAT (mohair) not angora RABBIT. If nothing else I'll hold two strands together and make a bag if it's truly scratchy. (1200 yards for $16. How could it not be?)

Of course, the previously mentioned Lorna's Laces, but you gals will be so proud of me - I ended up only buying the sportweight, saving about $14.

Last but certainly not least, I bought a two-pound cone of Brora Softspun from Webs. Mark really wants the ribbed man sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, and I ran out of yarn for Saranac. (I can't win lately..!) so, I bought this yarn, 1900 yards to be SURE I had enough, to make it for him. I bought the chocolate color, if you're curious. It should be here on the 10th so I'll make sure to post a picture and a post-washing swatch so you'll know if it's a good buy!!

And believe it or not, there has been knitting going on, just lots of "sea creatures" for the show. I plan on doing a mass post once I get the bag for my class assembled today tho. What I've finished this last two weeks total: one pair of LL socks in Happy Valley, one hat from LL Worsted Bittersweet, and several creatures. Maybe I'll go the Pluckyfluff Nozzlers route and sell them after the fact.

Jaeger Cranberry

Jaeger Cranberry
Originally uploaded by happyhandpainter.

It's been getting really stressful around here lately. At the moment I don't feel like talking about everything I'm trying to do and get done, so I'll just post about things I'm working on and stash additions.

I know I am on stashing overdrive because I am stressed and I seriously nest when stress takes over my life. All the cuddly yarn comforts me and makes me dream of future projects - which reminds me there is a future, and one in which I will have more time to enjoy the things I can't do right now (like knit, paint, or cook.)

Thankfully Mark has been more than accomodating about picking up more chores while I am going through this and I plan on doing something really nice for him to say thanks. Not buy something though - it's my family's way of supporting - by "gifting", but I'd like to not keep that going. I like getting gifts, I mean, but sometimes the excess of "stuff" gets to me. What should I do? He's going to a game this upcoming weekend, and though I'll be super busy, I think I'll give the apartment a good clean and get all the laundry washed for him too.

On to the stash! SInce I'll be gone in December (and my pal is too busy to search for my blog) I'll tell you guys what I got her! Plus I'm mailing it today. So she'll get it before I know it.


I got her a good one to make up for the lack thereof in December:


1. one skein of Schaeffer Laurel one-of-a-kind that I fell in love with at Threaded Bliss. It's 400 yards of handpainted cotton (cotton in winter? Just wait!) in shades of cranberry, hunter, navy, gold, and plum.
2. One pattern from Oat Couture for a lacy market-type bag. This is what the cotton is for, since it's heavier duty, not nearly as stretchy as wool, and more easily washed.
3. One box of chocolate scented incense.
4. One bag of chocolate covered espresso beans.
5. Postcard from where we're going :)

I hope she loves it!!

You knew it was bound to happen...

LL Mixed Berries
Originally uploaded by happyhandpainter.

Retail therapy, that is. The gal on KR who is destashing her LL to pay off her credit cards (how can I not support such a selfless act?!) dropped her prices. So I bought some sport weight in Cranberries and Mixed Berries (she assured me they would match, too. I see a gift in those two yarns!) I also bought a skein each of Blackberry and Pewter sock yarn, eliminating that from the list. Before you go scolding, I resisted the Happy Valley Helen's Lace. I love Happy Valley! Unfortunately I need to be careful about how I spend money right now. But it seemed worth it to get yarns I wanted anyway and help out a gal in need.

I also have almost all of the pieces for my pal's really "good" gift. I want to buy her something at T.B. but I'm just not sure what. Some new DPNs? The yarn for the pattern I bought her? I just don't know. Of course I won't go into detail, but she's fun to shop for.

Just in case MY pal is wondering, her Shimmer 5 is going to good use as a sea monster in my show. I know I should use it for something for me, but it just looks so... ocean-y and organic. I'll probably frog it after the show goes down tho, and then use it for me.

By the way, I've assembled almost all of my vacation knitting now. The grey angora and pearl scarf, a pair of socks out of Jawoll (I already started these. Bad me, put down those DPNs and back away slowly!) as well as two sets of LL sock yarn and the sportweight which I think will become a bag for Mark's mom for Xmas.

Can you tell I'm counting down? Keep me in your prayers, you're all in mine.

maid service

I think we are gonna talk seriously about getting a maid service when we get back. I'll be working full time and doing other things on the side, so I think the money will be there for someone to do vacuuming, dusting, mopping and wiping down once a week. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but these actions take up so much of what little free time I have that it would feel wonderful to have them done for me/us.

Work is going better on the show, I put in a few hours on Wed. night and had a crit today, it went well even with the hypercritical prof that everyone is scared of. I keep vacillating betweens fears of "my environment will not feel oceany enough,"; "I will not have enough creatures"; and "my paintings will look like garbage."

We'll see.:)

Mark's gone til Sat. night on a rugby trip. I'll miss him a lot, but it'll also give me time to actually clean without him asking "why are you doing that NOW?" (A: "Because *I* have to do it sometime, *I* might as well do it now.") Of course I don't say that. But I'd like to.

Love! :)

I am on some kind of Lorna's binge right now. It is so sick! I didn't buy any more, but I want to. So, to make myself feel an eensy smidgen better, I thought I'd make a list of all the colors I plan to buy in the sometime future. (Note that the Happy Valley socks are decidely unhappy right now. Still stuck on heel two. Ugh!) At the moment I'm mostly into socks, but I wouldn't say no to some worsted. Imagine THOSE socks! :) Did I tell you I plan to make every pair of socks in the Folk Socks book? No? Well, it's my New Years resolution, except it will start on vacation.

Nearly solid:

two skeins Pewter (I LOVE this color. It's the next purchase... when I actually have money anyway.)
two skeins Carrot
two skeins Douglas Fir
two skeins Blackberry
two skeins Lilac
one skein each of Chocolate, Denim, and Cranberry for fair isle socks

Multi:

two skeins Springer (just purchased, one down!)
two skeins Georgetown (love this color...)
four skeins Baltic Sea (a pair for me, a pair for him.)
Two skeins Bee Stripe. I love Bees.
Two skeins Lucky Stripe. I love pink and orange together!
Two skeins Desert Flower
Two skeins Gold Hill
Two skeins Mineshaft (for him)
One skein each in Lakeview, Seaside, and Pioneer.

T told you it's a sickness, okay? At least you know what to get me for every holiday for the next three years... maybe I'll cross these off as I get them too, that'd be fun. I also thought I might buy two skeins a month, or as a treat for finishing a pair of socks in the previous month's LL, whichever happens first. A massive stash of LL is not a bad thing. Just ask Annawolfsong on Knitter's Review, who is selling more LL than most LYSs! (I bought what she had of colors I wanted. Of course.)

Based on some small calculations on my handy mathemetizermajiggy, it'll only cost me... oh... $315. That's a lot. But not as much as I thought it would be, oddly. And HEY!!! I just found two unused skeins of LL sock in Motherlode! How timely is that? Now if I can finish my HV socks, I can cast on for the Motherlode ones for next month! Rock on. :)

(Yes, I am working on Saranac here and there. HV socks do get slight priority since they're almost done.)

Stash enhancement update

This last few weeks have been really hard. It sounds stupid, I know, because we've had a good time visiting different places, renting movies and stuff. But my show is always on my mind and it's like a can't relax, I feel like a caged animal, just pacing and waiting to be let out. it doesn't help I put off a lot of other classwork to work on the show, didn't get as much done as I thought, and now I have this mountain in front of me. Any words of encouragement you guys have would be appreciated today.

Not surprisingly, I turned to retail therapy to assure myself all was well. TO be fair, it was on sale, and only things I wanted anyway so I don't feel too much like an ass. From a gal on Knitter's Review I bought two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport, one in Aslan (I love Chronicles of Narnia!) and one in Sand Ridge, which I think I will give to Emily at work since she really likes that colorway and she's knitting tons for her nephew. I also bought, FOR ME, two skeins of Shepherd Sock in Springer, which I liked because the colors seem sort of zen. I had to fight myself to keep from buying the single skein of Pewter that she had. PLUS my mom is bringing me a skein of LL Worsted in Happy Valley (my favorite!!) to make my class model out of.

I'll post a picture of the Saranac I am knitting for Mark as soon as I get a couple more inches done. It's going slowly. The Happy Valley socks (for my mom, oddly) are stalled at the second heel. Why, I don't know. I guess I hate picking up stitches more than I realized.

It just seems like a lot right now. I should have a cry and a nap and get back to it.

messystudio

messystudio
Originally uploaded by happyhandpainter.

I know I haven't been posting much... as you can see I've been hard at work on my show which goes up in three weeks!! I am scared to death and still not able to motivate myself to paint much. To make matters worse more fiber arrived in the mail today that is STUNNING - silk/merino, merino/tencel, and handpainted merino. I'm not touching it til school's out though. I just can't!

Chattanooga souvenir yarn

Chattanooga souvenir yarn
Originally uploaded by happyhandpainter.

This is a bit late in posting, but we visited Chattanooga this past Saturday on a lark. Mostly we laid out in the park there near the water and it was perfectly cool and delicious. We also did a bit of shopping...!

In a small shop selling everything from tea pots to postcards to wind chimes, I found a small display of beads, including the lavender pearls you see at left. I only had a little money with me, so I bought a dozen, knowing I wanted to knit something with them but wasn't sure what! Later that day we visited Genuine Purl, a really nice yarn shop on North Market. They were exploding with yarn, especially new Rowan, Diakeito, and handpaints galore. I had to buy some souvenir yarn, of course and I fondled lots before I settled on this little Japanese laceweight (you can just see the edge in the photo). I am pretty sure it's angora/silk/wool, but as the label's entirely in Japanese I'm not sure. Score, it matched the lavender pearls SO nicely!

Now to find the perfect pattern.... ironically, I found it at work (Threaded Bliss Yarns, come see me!!) It's a Fiber Trends pattern, called the Cocoon Lace Wrap and is sooo perfect! It even has six little points on each end, good for the dozen pearls I have.

I want to work on it NOW, but instead I'm putting it all in a bag together to be my vacation knitting. Now, of course, I'm debating whether or not I should spend $21 to get two balls of Kidsilk Haze in Smoke to carry along with the lace... since it's pretty fine, but not the least bit fuzzy. I like fuzz!

Secret Pal 6 gifts 1 + 2

secretpal1and2
Originally uploaded by happyhandpainter.

I admit, I have been an unappreciative Secret Pal. I didn't post the last gift, even though it thrilled me, because I just didn't feel like blogging at that time. Now I feel a little more balanced, and I got another gift from her in the mail, so here's the entry.


THANK YOU SECRET PAL! I AM THE LUCKIEST PAL IN THE WORLD! Whew, that was tiring. But here's the deal - I really am so lucky. Not only does my pal give me gifts that suit my taste, but she also writes a very kind note always and it made me smile a lot today. In my first package, she gave me two balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (which you're right - I love it more than Cashsoft). I am now so crazy about Cashmerino that I'm buying it as it's on sale at the LYS I work at. I couldn't resist casting on with it, and you'll be relieved to know that I finished my project already - the fingerless handwarmers from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. She also gave me a Rowan pattern book, Classic Weekend, from which I'll be making the little wrap sweater in the near future. Also included in gift one was some handmade soap from a Farmer's Market that my boyfriend immediately sniffed and declared acceptable for both man and woman use, and has thus been used. :)

In the second round, my pal outdid herself even more. (Are you sure you're staying in the $50 limit?? *grin*) She sent me a skein of Colinette Shimmer in colorway Morocco. This is how magical my pal is- normally I dislike shimmery stuff. I generally dislike Colinette (with the exception of Giotto and occasional colors of Point 5) but she managed to pick the exact color I would have chosen for myself. And not just in the Shimmer - she also sent me two skeins of Alpaca Cloud in Peppermint, my favorite color in that yarn! Last but certainly not least, an awesome mix cd which we listened to in the car on vacation.

You see what I mean about being lucky? My pal is SO getting something sent to her from New Zealand when she reveals herself!

sorry 'bout that.

Hey, just wanted to say sorry for the super negative posts the last couple days. I am feeling much better after my first day at work at the LYS!!! I did really well I think, enjoyed it, even though I totally screwed up the in-store model I am trying desperately to make. After thinking I finally had it cast on, I get home, get through one repeat of a lace pattern I've ALREADY DONE, RECENTLY, and think "Hey, this looks a bit wonky." Well, I count a couple times and I have 3 extra stitches. And somehow my marker's wandered. *sigh*

Tonight I will have a picture of the cast on and CORRECTLY DONE lace repeat. Scout's honor!

Also a picture of my secret pal's gift, which has become that secret bar of dark chocolate hidden in the freezer for when you are about to start screaming if you don't have some mindless knitting right this second!!!

ARGGHH

Well, now I feel put upon. It's my own fault, of course. I said I'd clean, and then took yarn out to do ebay auctions and now there's yarn everywhere and I'm stressed and what the fuck am I supposed to do with all this shit??? Why do we have so many goddamn computer cords?! I swear, there's fifty of them!! I can't tell you how tempted I am right now to just start chucking stuff, but that seems unwise. Add to that I want to work on school projects, knit, cook dinner for Mark, ... and.. and... I'm just overwhelmed. I'd like to have a good cry but that seems like even more time wasted. How is it 3 pm when I got up at 7 am?! Granted I got some stuff listed on ebay, and read an entire book, but now the apartment's a wreck and I just plain don't want to clean it.

Add to that money troubles. It's tight, man. I need to buy maybe three things from the grocery store, but I don't want to do it. I want Mark to do it, cause I spent like 30 bucks this weekend already on grocery AND I paid for date night. Granted I offered, but still. It should not take a rocket scientist to figure out, "Hey, maybe my girlfriend is tired of buying food and toiletries and stuff all week!"

This is not Mark's fault. He does not have ESP, and he's miles and miles away playing a rugby game. Maybe that's why I'm so frustrated and upset; he goes out to play (granted, it's a very hard game) and I'm at home, wanting him to HELP CLEAN and DO STUFF FOR ME. It's shitty being home all day alone because I get nothing done, am bored and lonely, and when he does get back, my first thought is "Whew, now I can get to work." WTF?? It would make more sense to get it all done while he's gone, but no, I am just plain being bratty.

Okay. Now that I've got that off my chest, I'm going to put on the tv, clean til the episode's over, take a shower, go to the store, get the soup on (Mexican Butternut Stew and Quesadillas), and then write. For school. It's strange how the thought of just sitting down and doing schoolwork gives me a sigh of relief... (As in, "My god, the crushing load I put on myself has lightened considerably! Oh, happy day!")

ARGGHH

Well, now I feel put upon. It's my own fault, of course. I said I'd clean, and then took yarn out to do ebay auctions and now there's yarn everywhere and I'm stressed and what the fuck am I supposed to do with all this shit??? Why do we have so many goddamn computer cords?! I swear, there's fifty of them!! I can't tell you how tempted I am right now to just start chucking stuff, but that seems unwise. Add to that I want to work on school projects, knit, cook dinner for Mark, ... and.. and... I'm just overwhelmed. I'd like to have a good cry but that seems like even more time wasted. How is it 3 pm when I got up at 7 am?! Granted I got some stuff listed on ebay, and read an entire book, but now the apartment's a wreck and I just plain don't want to clean it.

Add to that money troubles. It's tight, man. I need to buy maybe three things from the grocery store, but I don't want to do it. I want Mark to do it, cause I spent like 30 bucks this weekend already on grocery AND I paid for date night. Granted I offered, but still. It should not take a rocket scientist to figure out, "Hey, maybe my girlfriend is tired of buying food and toiletries and stuff all week!"

This is not Mark's fault. He does not have ESP, and he's miles and miles away playing a rugby game. Maybe that's why I'm so frustrated and upset; he goes out to play (granted, it's a very hard game) and I'm at home, wanting him to HELP CLEAN and DO STUFF FOR ME. It's shitty being home all day alone because I get nothing done, am bored and lonely, and when he does get back, my first thought is "Whew, now I can get to work." WTF?? It would make more sense to get it all done while he's gone, but no, I am just plain being bratty.

Okay. Now that I've got that off my chest, I'm going to put on the tv, clean til the episode's over, take a shower, go to the store, get the soup on (Mexican Butternut Stew and Quesadillas), and then write. For school. It's strange how the thought of just sitting down and doing schoolwork gives me a sigh of relief... (As in, "My god, the crushing load I put on myself has lightened considerably! Oh, happy day!")