Frantic knitting update

Enjoy this picture of a troll cake from the Bazaar Bizarre cake walk while I fill you in on the recent knitting here in the free world.

Please note the hair on the doll reflects my current state of panic.

The good:
I finished the second sleeve, blocked everything and wrote out the basic pattern.

The bad:
I still have to seam, weave in ends, rib the hem, knit the hood, and write out the pattern for other sizes

The ugly:
This project is due at the publisher on the second of January. There is no FedEx on the 31st or 1st. Theoretically I'd have to get it out today. That isn't going to happen.

It looks Like I'll have to ship it on the 2nd, to arrive on the 3rd. One day late. And that's pushing the limits of what I can do. AND seriously destroying any idea that I might do something fun to ring in the new year.

Will the publisher hate me for being a day late? (I tried to ask her but she's out of the office until the 2nd!)

I guess I'll find out.

Knit like you have a deadline

OK I'm feeling like I could make it... I'm knitting at work when no one is looking... I'm past the half-way point...

Here's what I have left to do:

Knitting-
half of one sleeve
seaming and weaving in ends
picking up stitches and adding some ribbing on hem
(cough cough) designing and knitting and attaching a hood (cough cough)
blocking garment

Everything else-
write out pattern based on my thorough notes
adapt pattern for other sizes using MATH
pick up box of tissues and chocolate for emotional meltdown during math session
draw a schematic in photoshop
pack it all up and ship it off in time for January 2nd deadline

OK now I'm starting to feel like I won't make it. Seriously, is this possible?

I'm really knitting here

Hello friends. Are you having a warm holiday filled with friends, family, and all around good cheer? Me neither. But I do feel pretty good about most everything going on right now...except for one major mistake.

I completely miscalculated the amount of time it would take to knit up the garment that is due at a publisher in one week's time. Obviously it should be done by now, with a pattern written up in all the sizes and schematics all done up perfectly. The garment should be blocked and seamed and on it's way to the publisher wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and with delivery confirmation so I can check in online regarding where the package is along it's journey across the country. Then I could sit back and blog all day about my next wonderful project while drinking that thick dark hot chocolate drink Starbucks used to carry before they discontinued it and now it's like it never existed. But no, the garment is not in this stage of completion.

Instead, it's spread out on my couch, in a curly mess that I keep stretching out, safety pinning together and "trying on" in the hopes it resembles the drawing I proposed back in August. The threads are all over the place like unintentional fringe, asking to be woven in.

The math took longer than expected. The knitting is taking longer too. The gauge is smaller than I imagined. I'm using size 5 needles to get the drape just right. The pattern is written because I'm figuring it out as I go. (Yes, I'm taking very good notes)

But I will make it. Because I always do. I WILL make it. Even if it means skipping meals (yeah, right) and racing to FedEx at the last minute, I will make it. It's going to be okay. Really... I just have to go ice my wrists a bit and then knit until I fall asleep on the couch.

But you know what I mean when I say that I wouldn't trade it for anything, right?

Bazaar Bizarre - now with pictures

Welcome to a cold and rainy Saturday just south of downtown Los Angeles! Saturday, DEC 16, 2006:
Here is the Shrine but the "Bazaar Bizarre" sign out front is small enough that you should take my word regarding what it says.

I was setting up when I took a moment to pose for a picture... Hi everybody!

I put together a a couple of bins filled with hand dyed yarn, roving and homespun to sell. Having never done this sort of thing before, I was nervous about it all and decided I should be eligible for ice cream sundaes if/when I didn't sell anything.


BUT... I basically sold out of everything you see here!















Ok. There was also an ongoing cake-walk, which in my delirium I found hysterically amusing. Lots of good cakes. These were my favorites... a pile of pink cupcakes.





And, "They're all going to laugh at you" - the Carrie cake. Perfect.




Here is a shot of the selling floor from the balcony. Oh we look so small.




Somebody is tired! I had very little left on the table and I could hardly keep my eyes open. But it was fun. Thank you SO much for everyone who came out!

I hope to do this again next year - but with WAY more stuff, of course.

I'm not giving knitted gifts this year

Well maybe a few. But more importantly, where did 2006 go?

Even more importantly, I have an announcement: I am the worst knitting blogger of all time. Perhaps I am being dramatic. But I don't think so.

I was just reflecting on how I used to write stories about knitting and dying and spinning. I also took a lot of pictures of such things. I remember those days fondly. I am knitting these days but I don't know if I'm allowed to show a picture of the work in progress because it's for somebody else's book. The only part of the story I've leaked is the yarn. I still like the yarn, by the way.

In unexpected news, I received Handspun Revolution in the mail today. I ordered it in May, so I kinda forgot about it. Yeah. You read that right. May.

But this book looks like a lot of fun. I'm quite inspired suddenly. I think I have to start tricking out my spinning wheel. Come to think of it, I might need to start my own revolution. Or join that one. Or... nevermind, It's my bedtime. But you get the idea.

I'm still here

I'm happy to say the Bazaar Bizarre was a huge success. I am exhausted! I have a lot of pictures to share as well, and will do so later today.

I have to go to my other job now and have this good feeling re-purposed into despair. But hey, there are only two weeks left on this other job. A person can do almost anything for two weeks, right?

Coming soon: "January 2007, Living the Dream" - you're all invited!

Four days to go...

Bazaar Bizarre is coming.

Goal: (minimums)
10+ Homespun Yarn
12 Batts
30+ Felt Bead Kits
50+ Felt Beads
20 Dyed Yarn (not homespun)
20+ Cuffs
12 Stitch Markers

DONE:
8 Homespun Yarn
3 Batts
4 Felt Bead Kits (I would have more but I keep selling them on etsy!)
30 Felt Beads (Thanks Ali! - Happy Birthday)
7 Dyed Yarn (not homespun)
32 cuffs
4 Stitch Markers

I think I'm in trouble.

Oh, and I should also dye some silk hankies. And put together some Kool-Aid dying kits. And get some change. And bags. And a tablecloth... and... go to the Clipper's game on Wednesday? I'll be fine. I'll have plenty of time to sleep in 2007.

ten thousand things

My free time is spent dying, prepping and spinning fiber like mad trying to get ready for the Bazaar Bizarre this Saturday. I vow to have fun, no matter what. That said, I'm going to try hard to also avoid having a sparse booth.

If I'm so busy, why then am I playing around with ephemera? Why do I just want to draw and glue?

There is so much stuff everywhere my mind is starting to clutter. I fancy myself someone attracted to clean, modern design and smooth surfaces. However, my apartment currently looks like I'm about to have a large yard sale, and unrelated items are stacked up everywhere.

But the joy I get everytime I reach into the 15-pound box of white fiber to find the right piece to use is fantastic. I get giddy and excited that I'm allowed to have a giant box like this here. I'm not nuts, I'm an artist. There is potential in every such object, I just need to find what it is...

Or, I need to seriously have a yard sale. And SOON! Before I start to believe this crap.

the new knitty is up...

(Trying to play it cool at work, but inside I am jumping up and down!)

The new knitty is live - and I have an article in it! Go here. Now! (Then come back, ok?)

I'm SO excited I can't believe it! When did this thing go live anyway? I just now figured it out of course.

I'll tell you what's special about this Fiber Friday:

1. Felt beads (hit link)

2. It's my birthday

3. I feel pretty good!

4. I've got some homespun to show-off:

Amigurumi swap loot

I traded some hand dyed yarn for some amigurumi recently and I'd love to show it off: First, an orange from Javastain! I already have a cherry so I'm thinking there may be a day in my future where I have a bowl of crocheted fruit.

Next up, domUNIQUE sent me two things: a hanging bird and a banana tampon cozy.

I'll give you a moment to take that in.

I love everything and I'm still considering adding "write amigurumi patterns" to my to-do list of 2007. That list is getting long, but it mostly all falls in the category of living the dream or returning to the Bohemian Lifestyle.

I actually submitted a pattern to the new Stitch n' Bitch Men's Book but I haven't heard anything back. It's okay because if/when I get rejected, I already have this amigurumi pattern to launch here in 2007 and I can cross that off my list then! I won't yet reveal what the project is but I might make some for gifts this year. It's crochet for guys, technically, but I would never ever keep a lady from hooking.

Knitty Gritty run-down

I taped an episode yesterday and would like to give a quick review:

First off I don't have any pictures because my camera's batteries died at a very bad time. The host, Vickie Howell let me take a picture with her using her camera and gave me permission to grab the shot off of her blog. I haven't figured out how or when to do this, but I certainly will.

I woke up at 5am to make the 7am call time. When I got there, I met the "knitsters" right away - Anne, Jeremiah and Jef. All very nice and cool and fun - all helped put me at ease as well. I admit to being rather nervous.

The taping took a while due to some technical issues as well as waiting for me to finish knitting rows and such - all in all about four hours. The production team was very nice and they let me show off my homespun at the end too.

Guess when it airs? Around this time NEXT YEAR! I'll be sure to mention it another thousand times in between now and then.

Thank you to all the folks who encouraged me and gave me advice and support! As a small fish in a giant ocean, I was made to feel a bit more confident with your kindness.

Knitty Gritty rehearsal day

To get you up to date, I am going to be a guest on DIY's knitty gritty. Ok, now that you know everything...

I just returned from the rehearsal for Monday's show taping and it went well. I have more knitting to do this weekend, of course, but that pretty much describes every weekend around here.

Here are some questions that came up, and I'm curious how other knitters answer them:

1. Is knitting like other creative things you do? (like playing music, etc.)

2. Do you knit things you can actually use, wash and keep using? Even to the point of wearing them out?

We'll see how I answer those on Monday. I'm hoping they'll let me hang my homespun yarn all over the set. We'll see about that too.

I nearly met Amy Singer from knitty.com - Unfortunately she was on her way out as I was entering. Sigh. Some day... it would be nice to meet her in person since I am officially a knitty contributor. Yes, my pants are very fancy these days.