Startitis

I've been hit with a case of startitis. Normally, I hate to have more than 2 WIP's in progress, unless one of them is a huge project that I know will take time. But lately, I keep starting things and can't seem to finish any one thing. Its not my fault, really. Patterns keep jumping out at me, screaming "START ME." What would you do in such a tempting environment?

This is the baby blanket I started for my cousin Alex and his wife Melissa. Its a little thicker than it was earlier in the week. I'm a little bored so it got put to the side for a bit.



This is how far I've gotten with my knit scarf. I frogged about 4 rows and started again. It measures about 20" now and I love the way it looks. I know I'll finish this one for sure but it just might take a while.



A baby round ripple in purple and a variegated yarn is my latest start. I had no business starting another, but these work up so fast, I couldn't help myself. I only started last night and its already 17" across. I have a feeling this one will get done first...being the instant gratification girl that I am. :)



I'm almost afraid to mention that I started the Layering Cardi from Crochet Today. I frogged it though because I just wasn't sure what size I should make it since I'm weirdly between sizes. So that one doesn't count, right?

Thanks for the tips on the removable frosted glass stuff. I'm going to head to Loews or Home Depot this weekend to pick some up. Laura, I'm about ready to petition to my landlord about a cat. Its stated in my lease we can't have pets, but I think an exception should be made, so cross your fingers.

Oh, and speaking of Loews, its nearly time to get seeds and start the spring planting! Yipee!

Tuesday's Tribute

Yet Another Jay and Deb Production.

A little note before Tuesday's Tribute begins....

Ash Wednesday is tomorrow and begins the Lenten season. For those that don't know, its the 40 days that we prepare for Easter. The 40 days represent the time that Jesus was in the desert. Every year, I give something up as part of my penance. Usually, its some kind of food item, but with my new diet, there's not much left to give up. So I'm going to do something drastic this year.

I'm giving up complaining! Oh, its going to be tough because I know I complain an awful lot. If I do complain, or think of a complaint, I'm going to stop and say a Hail Mary or an Our Father instead. Maybe a Glory Be if I'm pressed for time or a Serenity prayer if I need patience. You get the point.

So today's Tuesday's Tribute is to a variety of things/people that piss me off, drive me batty, make me crazy, want to punch things, and curse like a sailor. Hey, I need to get it off my chest if I'm not going to complain for the next 40 days.

To the landlord who claims that mice are normal in winter, without offering to hire an exterminator or plug holes. Even when you've caught 6 of those suckers in less than a week. Go suck it.

To the backstabbing co-worker who has no idea what teamwork is, kiss my fat ass.

To the man on the subway who sits with his legs wide open, taking up 2 seats so no one else can sit down...it only needs that much room in your dreams.

To the ex who's child support check is now 24 days late, grow up.

To Aunt Flo that gives me cramps, bloating, and a generally pissed off mood, go fly a kite.

To the other co-worker who speaks at a volume that is beyond loud, shut up!

To the Internet company who's slow connection makes it nearly impossible to post a picture without pulling hair out, go scratch.

And finally, to my insurance company, that doesn't cover eye care or glasses, so a visit and new prescription costs well over $300, shove it!

I'm sure I could think of more if I really tried, but those are the biggies. Wish me luck my friends!

What would you do?

What would you do if your across-the-backyard neighbor had a pigeon coop that kept him on the roof everyday and you caught him peeking into your back door window?

If you're my husband, you cover the window in drawing paper out of frustration.



What would you do if your back door window is covered in drawing paper, keeping out precious sun rays?

If you're me, you draw a sun, clouds, birds, and a helicopter onto that paper. The helicopter is an accurate representation of the ones that fly in my neighborhood a few times a week, looking for bad guys.



What would you do if you're four inches into a baby blanket and realize you'll be lucky to get 12 inches from the yarn?

If you're me, you pretend like you don't know this and forge on. This problem can be solved another day.



Finally, what would you do if presented with lettuce and spinach that was bigger than you?

If you are Benjamin Franklin and William Penn (our hermit crabs), you painstakingly drag it into your hut, so no one can take it away.

Happy Sunday!

Mojo's coming back!

The crafting mojo is coming back. I crocheted and sewed! Woot!

I was able to sew up some baby bibs from the Chickpea Studio Bib pattern before my mother kindly asked that I return her sewing machine this week. Somehow, when she asked for it, I felt a deep sense of mourning. It was literally painful to give back….there might have been silent tears, but I won't confirm this.

I don't have pics of the bibs yet, because I need to buy sew-onVelcro. I have sticky Velcro but figured that was a disaster waiting to happen. I'd considered buttonholes but mom's manual confused the living daylights out of me. If I'm going to break a sewing machine while learning buttonholes, I'd rather it wasn't my mother's.

The painful parting with the sewing machine led me to make a few realizations.

1. Although I still suck at sewing (I suck bad!), I really enjoy it.

2. If I want to get better, relying on my 1960's machine with the temperament of an old grumpy man, is a bad idea.

3. I need to buy my own (new) machine with some of my tax refund. I'm going to start researching and hopefully make a decision on which one sometime soon.

4. Guilt over realization #3 started to set in and then realization #4 occurred. I worked hard all year and deserve a sewing machine to make my crafty fingers happy. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Ok, I've actually got FO's to show. Pi's second Americal Girl doll (I mentioned that Grandpa got her two of them for Christmas, right? And that he spoils her rotten, even though I've asked him not too?) was jealous that the other one had a poncho and she didn't. This is what Pi told me anyway. So I made a second poncho, also the Lacy Shells Poncho from Luv2Crochet. I went with an easier hat this time though. Just rounds of dc with shells on the last round.



I also saw this Spring Fling Garden Party dress pattern on Crochetville and thought it was cute. Pi wanted it to be a little shorter (great, less yarnand time!) so I made it knee length. I think its pretty cute! It was a smart design because its open in the back, all the way to the waist, so its easy to dress the doll. It closes with buttons instead of being sewn all the way up. Pi wants a second one, but she's yet to pick the colors.

Just to keep myself accountable, I lost 1.6 pounds this week. I'm really happy with that, considering all the cheating I did last weekend. It's a total of 18 pounds now. Not too shabby for 6 weeks!

I'm itching to get back to my lace scarf. Hopefully this weekend!

P.S. - I was flabbergasted at how many of you don't drink coffee. Especially those of you with kids!

Tuesday's Tribute

Yet Another Jay and Deb Production.

An Ode to Coffee!!!

In my youth, I did not understand the magic, the beauty, or the wonder of coffee. I struggled through college (and 2 after school jobs) in a hazy daze. Tired, groggy, and uncaffeinated. I was too proud for coffee, thinking I didn't need it. I could do without. Stupid pride.

Today, I humble myself to coffee. Once I discovered the fabulous caffeine buzz, the world was never the same. Suddenly, my morning crankiness subsided, the two birds in Brooklyn were chirping, and things were just... sparkly.

Coffee is the answer. To everything.

Without it, I am incomplete. Thank you for existing coffee!

Its been one week...

Now that I've gotten Bare Naked Ladies stuck in your head, my job is done. :)

Seriously though, my apologies for not updating in so long. Do you ever have one of those weeks where things just pile and pile until its just a bit too much and just getting out of bed is a chore? Yeah, that was my week. I've got a work deadline this week and have been furiously working to make sure I meet it. I even brought work home with me this weekend. Add some family drama to that and well, it wasn't pretty.

Towards the end of the week, it looked like things were easing a bit and then we got a call that Piper's great-grandpa Morty (on her dad's side) had passed away. Pi just went to visit him 2 weeks ago and he had been looking better, so when we got the news, she was understandably devastated.

It is the hardest, most heart-wrenching thing to see your baby suffering like that and not be able to "fix" it. I just wanted to make it all better and I couldn't. Kissing this boo-boo wouldn't make it go away. It was a nasty parenting lesson where I learned that I can't protect her from everything.

What did seem to help was pulling out Pi's first year album and looking at pictures of Great-grandpa Morty and Great-grandma Rose (she died when Pi was just a baby). She seemed comforted by the idea that they had been reunited for Valentine's Day after not being together in years.



Pi's father didn't think she should go to the funeral (I disagree, but agreeing with Pi's dad is something that rarely happens anyway), so we did our best to distract her and give her a good weekend.

We normally don't make a big deal of Valentine's Day (commercialized fake love holiday and all), but to cheer Pi up, we braved the crowds and went out for dinner. I wore a red shirt and Pi wore a pink one. We painted our nails to coordinate with our clothes.



I managed to get some crafting done this week, though not too much. Using the Lacy Shells Poncho pattern and Vanna's yarn in Autumn with an I hook, I made Pi's American Girl doll a poncho and hat. Ever since Grandpa gave her these dolls for Christmas, she's been trying to collect as many different outfits as she can for then. She wants me to do another poncho for the other doll. If I can, I want to surprise her with this Spring Dress by Bella Bambina.



This is the Schoolmarm vest from Interweave Crochet Winter 2007 in Caron Simply Soft. Its been a work in progress since before Christmas, but I had put it down because my gauge was off and it was too small. Since I've lost a few pounds, I finished it, hoping it would fit. Its still too small by about 10 pounds or so. It closes but looks a little strained, ha! I'm going to use it as a motivation tool to keep my butt in gear. With luck, I'll be able to wear it in 5 or 6 weeks.



Speaking of weight, I lost 1.2 pounds last week. Not a good week, but considering what kind of a week I had, I'm happy to report a loss at all. This week is probably going to be a gain. Between eating out on V-day and polishing off an entire box of chocolate hearts, I don't have much hope for the scale. *gulp*

6th Picture Challenge

I survived the 3 children! Whew! By the time Justin and Michaela went home last night, Piper and I were both exhausted. She was asleep by 8:30 and I followed soon after.

No sewing was done and I managed to mess up my knitted scarf A LOT. I can't figure out how to frog an entire row, so I put it down until my frustration could subside and I can go back to it with a fresh perspective. It might be a day or four.

Anyhoo, I was challenged over at My Tangled Threads to the 6th picture challenge. This one is different, and fun!! The rules are,

1. Go to your pictures
2. Take the 6th folder
3. Choose the 6th picture
4. Show the picture on you blog and write something about it.
5. Invite 6 new people to this challenge.
6. Link to them and let them know they are challenged.

This picture is the 6TH picture, in my 6TH album, on my computer. I don't have a full 6 albums on photobucket or flickr, so I just used my picture folders in my hard drive.



The picture is from this past summer. Pi had pulled out a large sheet of easel paper and put it on the floor to paint. She made a masterpiece (at least in her mama's eyes) and the picture has been saved.

I'm terrible at tagging people, so I won't. But if you're so inclined to take this challenge upon yourself, I'd love to see!

Two too many

Yesterday, Pi and I went to our cousin Bella's 1st birthday party. The last time I saw Bella was over the summer and man, has that kid grown! She's also incredibly social now and spent a nice chunk of time with me. Baby heaven!

She loves to stand on your lap and rock back and forth on her feet. Its sort of like marching but without actually picking her feet up. Bella really digs tissue paper too. While her parents were opening her gifts, she was more than happy to sit and tear paper.

The sewing machine hasn't been taken for a whirl, a spin, or even a walk yet. The reason is because I went to the birthday party with the big kid in the picture....

and came home with this...

Suffice to say crafting is not an option right now, haha! The little rascals went to bed around 2 and were awake by 8! Those 3 have an insane amount of energy and keeping up with them is nearly impossible. What can I say? My cousins and I were the same way when we were little.

Wish me luck today! LOL

Ballerina Andreanna

Kiki sent me some pics of Andreanna in the tutu that Samantha made for her. She's about as cute as a kid can be!



Kiki said that if she tells Andreanna to "do ballet" she responds by picking her foot up like this. She's checking herself out in the mirror in this pic.



Yesterday was weigh in #4 and I lost 4.6 pounds this week, for a total of 15.2 pounds. I stepped up the exercise this week and my body responded. This morning I'm up a bit though because we had pizza last night. Pizza seems to be a bigger hurdle than sweets to overcome. Two steps forward and one step back is still one step forward. Pizza aside, I'm really happy with how I've been doing.

I plan on taking my mom's sewing machine for a whirl this weekend. Minus any disasters, I should have a sewing project or two to show soon.

I didn't want to go in anyway!

Hmph, isn't 8 a little young for this?

A little of this, A little of that

On Christmas 2007, I gave my sister (Inky Binky, not the twins) a scarf. A 100% wool scarf. I gave her the instructions not to wash it in hot water or throw it in the dryer. Can you see where I'm headed with this?

Fast forward to January 2009. Lil sis drops the scarf, gets it dirty and throws it into the hamper. At this point, its been over a year since the washing instructions were given and she doesn't mention anything to the laundry lady...err, I mean my mother. My mom proceeds to do the laundry, totally unaware of the washing instructions from 2007 and washes the poor helpless scarf in hot water. Much felting ensued. Oy vey!

Inky asked me to make her another scarf since that one is thick as can be and approximately long enough for a midget to wear (little people for those who insist on being pc). I decided to make my standby Ifeoma scarf in acrylic, so she can wash and dry it as much as she wants. I even threw it in the washer and dryer to make sure it would hold up. Man, its soft now!

I know it looks short, but its 60" and Inky is super petite, so I didn't want it to be overwhelmingly long for her.



(scarf and a tank top...makes total sense to me!)



I've been getting the itch to practice my knitting, since its been awhile since I picked up the sticks. I'm not one to have much patience with doing the same thing over and over, so I decided to challenge myself (just a little) and try a pattern that include decreases and increases. Its the Feather and Fan scarf.



(sorry for the bad pic quality...wintertime picture taking sucks)

So far, I seem to understand the pattern and its coming out pretty good me thinks. Knitting is much slower for me than hooking, so at this rate I figure I should be all done with this scarf by April or so. Just in time for warmer weather! ;)

Ahhh, I also forgot to tell you guys about the 3rd weigh in, which was last Friday. I lost 2.1 pounds last week, making my total loss 10.6 pounds. I can't see a difference yet, but my pants are a bit looser. Woot woot! If I can keep losing about 2 pounds a week, I'll be really happy. The elliptical and I still don't love each other, but we're learning to live with each other.

Tuesday's Tribute

Yet Another Jay and Deb Production.

I'd been undecided all day on what my Tuesday's Tribute should be about. I thought of something on the way home from work, but as soon as I read THIS post by Jay, I knew my Tuesday's Tribute had to be in honor of Jay.

Like many of us, he has a loved one with cancer. I can't think of anyone who hasn't known someone who has struggled with cancer. Jay decided to step up and do something extremely selfless in the name of cancer research. He is going to shave his head in March in an effort to raise money for St. Baldrick's.

Please visit Jay's blog today and read about his effort and consider helping.