I haven't been ignoring you on purpose...

...honest I haven't. I've been busy making these...



...and these...



...and these...



Ladies and gentlemen, you are looking at some of the 50 (yes 50!) single stitch marker samples that I just shipped off to Phat Fiber - go ahead and see what it is...and don't forget to come back. hee hee I was accepted as a contributor to the April Phat Fiber Sample Box.

Every monthly box has a theme, April's is "Green". Samples for the box could be either green in color, or eco-friendly, or organic, or upcycled/recycled, etc...

My single stitch marker samples were all made from beads and dangles from jewelry that I've been collecting for the past year or so. I've collected all types of bracelets, earrings, and necklaces that would have been tossed into the trash or stuffed away in the back of someone's jewelry box and reworked them into some very pretty things.

I've been spending the last week, with the help of my wonderful tech-savy Honey, getting everything ready to go. Contributors had to have a set of graphics - Honey helped tremendously with those - to submit to the site for advertising. I also had to do some writeups - Honey was my proofer - a second pair of eyes to give everything a good once- or twice-over...and a gorgeous set of blue ones they are! ahem... anyway... Then the samples needed to be made up, packaged and shipped off - Spencer helped me package them last night.

I'll post soon about what's going on over here in the Chaos including why I'm sending off samples!

Photos and links and all sorts of info soon!

Sammie Sunday...minus the Sammie

...since HRH Sammie is buried under the covers keeping warm, and I've already shown you a picture of a motionless lump under the duvet...

I decided to show this video of Spencer on his "new" bike...minus the peddles and the chain...hence the "Fred Flintstone imitation comment"...



The bike, by the way, was finished yesterday. It's currently a single speed and not a fixed gear like he wanted. He has to get the correct rear wheel, blah blah blah yada yada yada bikebikebike. I don't really speak bike yet, so....whatever.

Anyway, we went to the "Grand Opening Party" for the Bike Kitchen this afternoon - and spotted a small orange frame that just might work for a bicycle for me! We are off to BK next Saturday and hope it's the right size. I'm looking to build a light weight bike for distance riding. Sgt Puff will still be around for local riding and shopping and errand running, but she's not good for distance - she's too heavy for that - she's good for short distances and carrying lots of stuff. And she does it very well!

More photos of his new bike, and maybe my newest addition later...and yes, I know...I still owe you guys a recipe.

I'm exhausted...time for bed! Should have been snoozing hours ago...

Baaa Baa glowing sheep, have you any wool?

Honey sent me this link today...

This must be where glow in the dark yarn comes from!

Last Minute Sammie Sunday and our "New" addition to the Chaos

Here are a few more videos of Sammie...checking out Spencer's new bike.







I was feeling much better, so we headed out on Saturday to The Bike Kitchen in San Francisco, paid $30 for "digging rights" and got lucky. Spencer found a frame the right size for him (finally!) and we built up a bike - we were there from opening til closing. It's still missing a few important bits (pedals, a chain, and a brake - just one brakes as he's making a fixed gear bike), but we're going back soon to finish it off.

Here's a photo of The Bike Kitchen (new facilities)...



And Spencer, the proud "daddy", with his "new" "baby"...




Go check out The Bike Kitchen (we call it BK). They're a non-profit service type of place - run completely by volunteers and donations of bikes/bike parts and money. Lots of really nice people and they do a lot for the local community. If you check out the links in the second paragraph (titled We have moved to 650H Florida St), you can see how exactly they moved back on Feb 22nd. In the rain. Spence and I were there helping. If you pay attention really closely, you can recognize the two of us in a few of the photos. For "action" shots of riding thru San Francisco in the rain, I'm wearing a bright orange rain poncho, and Spencer is wearing a blue rain poncho. We had a blast and are happy to support The Bike Kitchen and all they do. For non-riding photos, Spencer has on black/red/white plaid shorts (yeah, I know) and I've got my bright coral riding jacket on...

Spencer has tomorrow off, and as I'm feeling even better every day, if it's not raining, we're going off for a short ride. I can't wait...I have missed being out on my Sgt Puff and am really pretty much pissed that I missed out on the awesome riding weather we had last week!

I will post about projects and the recipe I promised...this week! Promise!

Sammie Sunday, Double Whammy Wednesday Edition

Yes, I'm late again. I've been down with the worst stomach flu I have ever had...EVER. Things have not been pleasant here in the Chaos.

I did manage to remember, in a moment of rare conscious activity, to actually take the following video (yes, Sammie on video!!!) and photo on Monday. Not bad for laying half-conscious in my bed...

Enjoy...

Here is HRH Sammie performing her daily Royal Bath...



And the resultant Rest After Bath...



Stay tuned for an awesome "This Really is a 30 minute Meal" Recipe and some knitterly projects. And some non-knitterly projects.

I have to gather all my photos and get some rest.

I am a Spinner...

OOOOOOOOOOOh....guess what Ms Cow and I did last night...

We busted out the top whorl spindle and the coppery brown fluff and drafted, and spun and twisted and cursed and voila!












It's not even, my drafting skills need more work...but we don't care.

WE MADE YARN!!!!

Here are some better photos of my Stitches haul of yarn:

Cherry Tree Hill Socks -Wisteria Colorway


Jojoland Harmony - the colors are so soft and yummy...I already have decided a pattern for this one.



Yarn Place Grace - LOVE the colors on this!!! MINE. Still trying to find a pattern for this...

What I did this past weekend...Stitches 2009

....first...we get ready...

Here's Ms Cow all strapped into her carry tote - which also doubles as my knitting bag when she tags along.



This was taken early Friday afternoon. She was a bit excited, so had to make sure I didn't forget her.

Later that evening while the laundry was going...I made these...

5 sets of Pink Ribbon Stitch Markers...



3 pairs of Pink Ribbon Earrings...



7 Pink Ribbon Cell Phone Charms...



All of these Pink Ribbon goodies were dropped off at the Yarn Dogs booth at Stitches for them to sell to raise money for their "Knitters for Knockers" Avon Walk Team 2009.

If you'll remember, back when No-blog-Rachel did the walk with the team, I provided some goodies for them to wear and sell then as well.

Saturday morning, we're all set to go and head out on BART to meet up with the rest of the group... Here's Ms Cow in her tote with my knitting, nestled inside my rolling shopping cart. Although I did take the cart on BART, I did not take it into Stitches. Figured there would be way too many people and I was right. Just wish everyone else who had a rolling cart would have left there's in their cars as well....



Some random shots of Stitches...












At some point the 5 of us...6 if you count Ms Cow, actually stopped for lunch...

Ms Cow never left the bag...she preferred to stay strapped in her safety ribbon for the duration.



The convention center was swarming with people, running here and there, oooohing and ahhhhing and running into each other...she was much safer staying in her carry tote.

Before and after lunch there was shopping, of course. After lunch, 3 (4) of us sat in on a drop spindle spinning demo at the main stage. OOOH, that was cool.

After the demo, there was more shopping.

About 5pm-ish, we all decided that we'd had enough and headed home. We stopped off for a lovely dinner and some questionable Italian lessons at a Macaroni Grill.

Waiting for the BART train home...poor Ms Cow has passed out. Good thing the knitting is there to cushion her. And no, not one of us actually knitted at Stitches. I did knit one row on my two-at-one-socks to show two of the ladies how I managed to not get myself all tangled up...but that doesn't really count.



Thanks a bunch to the wonderful AmpuT who drove us all in her converted van. Dudes, that thing rocks! It was so cool! Too bad I didn't get a photo of it when they pulled up at the BART station to pick me up... hee hee hee.

There were 5 of us (plus one wee little Cow) riding in style down to Stitches. The other 3 ladies I didn't know before this, so I have 3 new knitterly friends. And we had such a fun time! They are all so funny, we were laughing and smiling the whole time. Except for at the end when I think we were all about ready to collapse and decided we needed to leave and get some food. Once we got some food in us tho...heh heh heh heh...

OK Cherry, here's some photos now of what I bought while there...

Everything out at once...inspected and kitty approved...



Close up of some discount Cherry Tree Hill Sock yarn in Wisteria, the Whimsy Scarf Pattern (going to use the Cherry Tree Hill to make it), a few pin/buttons/badges...I seem to be collecting them...I heart sheep...Stitches 2009, and a Fiber Fiend Monster dude.



Two Square Circular #1's, 24in. These things rock. I was hoping to find something like this for my sock knitting. The transition from cable to needle is wonderful, and the cable is soft and supple...no kinking or curling here! YAY! I am just rocking on Honey's socks now. :) Ooh, and one of the 2 drop spindles I bought. One top whorl and one bottom whorl. And check out the leather straps. Those are for my Suede tote bag lined with firemen fabric that has been hibernating while I look for handles.



Here is an awful photo of the second spindle, a Blue Faced Leicester Roving braid and some lace weight Yarn Place Grace and Jojoland Harmony yarn. The Grace is all mine (multi colored with greens and blues and greys) and the Harmony is for a gift (swear to you guys it's the colors of Rainbow Sherbet). As I start the projects I'll have better photos - and I've stashed it all in Ravelry, but need photos there too . It was too dark and dreary for the last few days to get any good ones tho.



And lastly, Ms Cow is leaning on a big ball of some sort of roving fluff in a really cool coppery brown color. I have no idea what it is...I bought it cos of the color. :) If I'm going to be learning how to spin, I may as well like the color of what I'm totally ruining...



Not shown in any photos...the very large size S wooden, extended crochet hook. Stitch Diva ran out, so I had to order it. That should be arriving in about 2-3 weeks, depending on the amount of orders that poor man who makes them ends up getting out of them. Once I get that hook, the Random Acts of Acrylic Blankie is back on!!! I'll burn thru that acrylic in NO TIME!!!! I really LOVE Tunisian Crochet...

Anyway, I pretty much got home about 8:30pm-ish and just about collapsed on the couch. But not until after I had put everything out on the bed and photographed it. Cos you know I'm just gonna tear into everything and then there will be no more photo ops.

Anywhoo...spent all day Sunday and part of today recovering. It was not so much the sore feet and back from wandering up and down the convention hall floor, it was the wool sensitivities! I started sneezing towards the end right before I left, but didn't think anything of it.

Was fine thru dinner.

By the time I was settled in at BART waiting for the train home, it had hit. And hit in a BIG way. My eyes were swollen and watery and itchy. My nose was getting stuffed up. And my throat was so dry. And my hands...they were itchy as well.

Delayed reaction. Sigh. I had done so well all day long. I thought I would be able to survive unscathed. I was wrong. I guess I can handle a yarn store size amount of yarn stuff, just not a convention hall sized amount.

Oh well, this will definitely make me think twice about ever going again. But I'm as so glad I went this one time and finally saw what all the brouhaha was about.

Yes, it's big.

Yes, there's lots of stuff to buy and see and all that.

Been there, bought that, had the reaction...don't need to go back now or ever wonder what I was missing.

Yet another Sammie Sunday Monday...

....hey, spent all day yesterday vegitizing after Stitches...I needed to recover...

....and Sammie helped...



Her Royal Highness Kitty...lounging on her pile of soft, squishy, handmade-especially-for-her-comfort, blankies.

Actually, they were made for everyone else, but being the reigning Royal in the household, it's her prerogative to appropriate whatever the hell she wants for her personal use and comfort.

All Hail the Kitty!

StitchesStitchesStitchesStitches

StitchesStitchesStitchesStitches....

OK, not that I've got that out of my system, I can calm down a bit and do what I need to do to prepare for tomorrow. Its just as bad as preparing for a trip for goodness sake.

I am excited, can you tell?

There seems to be a few more bodies in the Stitches Road Trip tomorrow. YAY!

Nothing like socializing and getting down with your yarny self with those who understand your knitter-speak.

Party on knitters...

Look out world...here I come...

Thanks to AntiM, I am still not sitting on the couch with my chilled Thin Mints and tea. Instead I made myself into hero. Gah.

A busy night last night...

...things are all a-buzz in the Chaos lately.

Some of the reasons can't be revealed just yet, but they will soon...after Stitches.

Yes, I'm going to Stitches!!! Hitching a ride with the AmpuT early on Saturday morning.

I'll be looking for you No-Blog-Rachel!!!

We have all been very creative lately.

Even Ms Cow has gotten the "I need to make something NOW" bug.

We set off to JoAnn's Craft Superstore with our 40% off coupon yesterday at lunch.

You see, Ms Cow needs a Tea Set. Now, we've been to Japantown, Chinatown, every toy store in the area, have searched Ebay, Etsy, Amazon, everywhere...and no where...NO WHERE have we found a tea set sized for use by the Cows. We did find a teapot in Chinatown (which is a bit on the small side), but no tea cups were to be had anywhere! Now, if Cow and Ms Cow were sized the same as Barbie, this would be a non-issue...

Well, being frustrated by the whole situation and Ms Cow being the take charge crafter that she is...we decided to make our own.

So we needed clay.

Since when are there so many freakin types of clay?

Anyway, after much scrunching of brows, looks of dismay, feelings of despair, and knashing of teeth...we decided to get some Super Sculpey. Once we're done shaping it up, it will be baked in the oven and then we can paint it.

Here is Ms Cow with her first little ball of clay. This will soon become a tea cup.



We had lots of fun working with the Super Sculpey. It's very soft and pliable and won't dry out since it doesn't harden unless you bake it. So far so good. We'll keep you all posted on our progress.

Here's Ms Cow with her evenings worth of work:



Four tea cups, four saucers, a sugar bowl (with lid even!!!) and a creamer (with a spout!!!).

She's very clever and good with the clay our Ms Cow...

We won't be able to use the teapot we have with the cups we're making, it's too small for these Cow Sized cups. But, we can at least use it as a model for one we can make ourselves. Ms Cow really likes the shape of it.

Can't wait to make more things with this clay...it's fun!!!

Meanwhile, Ms Cow, Spencer, and I are preparing for Stitches...and the Kublacon!

Happiness is....

...a ride in the sunshine with a basket full of Girl Scout Cookies...and still making it home in time for my 2pm conference call. That was one quick ride...but it was worth it.



yeah, that's right...J hooked me up with some Thin Mints and Trefoils...I haven't had a supplier in years...

Thin Mints went straight into the fridge. I like them chilled with a cup of tea.

Just a few more minutes and it's cookie and tea time on the couch.

Sammie on Sunday Plus One Day

As promised, a delayed Sammie on Sunday photo...




She was half asleep and purring on my lap. Helping me warm up after my long day out in the rain.

I've entered our rides into the MapMyFitness log.

Round trip to BART (home station) => 5.97miles

Ride from Powell St BART to Bike Kitchen old location => .79 miles

Back and forth with 3 loads for the Critical Move => 6.81 miles

Ride from Bike Kitchen new location to 16th St BART => .89 miles

Over 14 miles...good grief...no wonder we were beat yesterday when we got home.

We're very glad we did it though as it gave us both a sense of accomplishment.

We were very productive and made ourselves useful the entire weekend. :)

I think I'm going to buy myself something little and purty at Stitches West on Saturday.

Spencer is watching some eBay auctions for bike parts...he deserves a part or two for his new bike.

Not just another pretty face...

...or should I say bike?

We're taking a break from Sammie Sunday...if I get my energy back, I'll post a photo of her tomorrow...

Today, Spencer and I participated in the Critical Move for The Bike Kitchen. Check out the "Latest News" section on the page...the 2/22 entry.

(Spencer and I discovered The Bike Kitchen in January. It's an awesome place with really cool people.)

Yes, you read it correctly. Moving The Bike Kitchen by bike. In the rain. By bike. Did I mention it was raining?!?

Oh man, what an experience. Spencer and I got up early this morning. Rode to BART in the rain (I remembered that I had rain ponchos - which helped - just a little). Rode to the old location - again in the rain.

And we made 3 trips together with the rest of the folks who also came to help. Spencer had his large messenger bag...and for the second trip, actually carried some tires over his shoulder. I had my metal baskets and bungee cords. :) OOOOh, on the last trip, Spencer even pulled a trailer with a small filing cabinet on it!!! And my pretty, girlie bike worked so hard today. She did great!!! She's not just another pretty bike...she can haul with the big bikes!

The hard core trailer pullers probably made quite a few more runs than we did, but after a point, there was nothing small left for us to carry.

There were lots of bikers there with trailers and these really cool bikes. The back carry thingy actually folds down and can carry quite a bit of stuff.

Since it was so rainy out, I didn't take my camera. There were plenty of other folks documenting the process though. One girl from a local high school - The Bike Kitchen is the subject of her senior photography project. A couple of guys from City College in SF - doing a documentary about the The Bike Kitchen. Several other video cameras and still cameras were around as well. Once they all post links and stuff, I'll link to them and then you'll be able to see all the folks who participated and you'll probably think we were all crazy to do this in the rain.

I have to admit that yes, we were, but Spence and I had a good time and so did everyone there. We met and talked to a lot of really nice people. (oh, and AmpuT, Spencer got to talk lots of bikebikebikebike...with everyone.) And we got interviewed a few times for the documentaries. I'm so proud of Spencer for following thru with this...he was the only kid there. And we were the only mother-son team there. One guy even called us rock stars since everyone wanted to talk to us.

Spencer and I won't be too difficult to spot. I had a bright orange rain poncho on, and Spencer had a blue rain poncho on...and everyone just kept taking our pictures...guess not too many parents hang with their kids?

Anyway...yesterday we helped a friend move to a new apartment...and today we did the Bike Kitchen thing.

Can I rest now?!?!?!?!

:)

Coolest commercial...

Spotted this over at U-handBlog




I would have joined in! Hee hee hee...

Took a chance...

...but kept the receipt.

Headed to Ross along with my shopping buddy Antonella tonight.

Bought two suits for interviews - brand name suits for good prices.

They are petite cut and awesome - no taking up the sleeves or hemming the jacket or the skirts!!!

But they don't quite fit.

Better get out on the bike more and pop in more of my many exercise DVD's.

I have hopes of fitting into them. One is one size too small, the other is two sizes too small. And yes, I did look for them in bigger sizes, but no luck.

I've kept the receipt and haven't cut off the tags yet, just in case real life interferes and I don't lose what I need to lose.

I want to at least get into the one that's one size too small - that's sooooo close.

Did I mention I don't have to take up the hems?

The cuts are modern, but not trendy or "young". Once they fit, they will outline my figure without being tight or revealing. Professional. Love them.

I just couldn't bring myself to buy a Mrs. Roper Moo-Moo suit from the woman's section. Just too much fabric and no shape at all.

I may be overweight, but I do have a figure and I like to see it. The right cut looks classy - it will show off your figure without putting too much emphasis on it. And these suits have the right cut for my short body.

I'm a woman, not a blob.

I will buy a "normal" size suit if I have to go bigger, but by God, I just don't want to...the tailor's bill would be enormous. They'd have to adjust the shoulders, sleeves and take in some on the waist of the jacket and probably the length, and then take up about 10-12 inches off the skirt or pants.

It'll be easier to lose 10 lbs. (hopefully more) - and that can only help my health and self confidence. Which will definitely help me when I go for the inevitable interviews.

It's been so long since I've been in the job search market that I'll take all the help in the self confidence department I can get. I'm not as young as I used to be and the competition now will be fierce.

Sigh.

Sammie Sunday - Valentine's Edition

What does one do on Valentine's Day when your Honey is far away?

Chat online for a few moments...miss him very much, drag yourself and your son to an indoor soccer game with a friend...



(Ms Cow hanging out in The Precious with Honey's Socks - the boys won btw)

and then console yourself with knitting and tea while your boy child ignores you as he plays on the Xbox.

Since the cat misses your Honey too, make sure she plays knitting along with you.

Sammie reading out the pattern to make sure I don't screw up - cos I do that a lot.



Let's take a break and have some tea...yes, she actually does drink it...



The fruits of our labor. The beginnings of Honey's Socks. (he already knows I'm knitting them and he's seen this photo, so it's ok to publish)





FINISHED OBJECT ALERT!!!!

Oh, and I've decided that the Quick as a Flash Crocheted Blanket is D.O.N.E. Spence and I went to JoAnn's today to get more yarn and they didn't have it. Came back home, looked online, and their website didn't have it. Ask anyone at the store and they won't know when, or even if they will get any more in... Was going to call and special order, but that takes 3 weeks and I'm just about over this blanket - unless I had gotten more yarn like RIGHT NOW.

It's 70" X 60". Not as big as a bed, but pretty damn close enough and way big enough to wrap yourself up on the couch. D.O.N.E.

I'll post an FO photo when I get around to taking one. Someday.

Quick Update in a Flash

Finished off the last of the first two mondo skeins of Sensations Boucle. The Blanket is only half done.

The decision has been made to buy two more.

That is all.