What's in YOUR....Medicine Cabinet?

Unfortunately, not a bunch of vikings, but hey, I got yer medicine cabinet right here baby. Yet another weekend blogstalking assignment (again, anyone can play - just go to the knittyboard SP/RAK thread to find it). This weekend's assignment - what's the weirdest thing in your medicine cabinet? Well, nothing too wierd at Chez Turtle.

Your basics. Makeup, bandaids and Q-Tips on the top, medicine, neosporin, tooth whitening gel in the middle (and my favorite clear nail polish - Sally Hansen Triple Strong.) Hydrogen Peroxide, Rubbing Alcohol, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant and moisturizer on the bottom. So, the wierdest thing is probably the baby-booger-sucker. Yeah, I know that's not the technical term for it, but ever since my college roommate called it that, I can't think of it any other way. But personally, I use this when my equilibrium seems off. A co-worker told me it could be due to earwax buildup (ewwww, TMI I know) but it wasn't in my case. Just allergies. So now I have a baby booger sucker. After yesterday's microwave dying workshop with Meirke Saarnit, I'll probably be using it for handpainting yarn. More on that later this week. This coming friday will feature my own handpainted yarn! Wooo-freakin'-hoo!

Yarn Pr0n Friday the 13th!!

Finally. Although it's really been what, 20 now? I have no idea. I lost count after the 12th one when Bezzie told me to hold off on the 13th until now. Oh well. It's still friday, and there's fresh pr0n to be had. First, last night I attended my very first knitting class. After my a-dumbass shawl disaster I knew I'd need professional help before I embarked on another lace shawl. So, I signed up for a Swallowtail Shawl class (from the Fall Interweave Knits)taught by a woman I have great respect for as a knitter, Miss Jane Prater. I want it a bit bigger than it's meant to be, so I'll be making it in Elsbeth Lavold's Silky Wool. Last week, I broke down and did a bad thing. I ordered yarn from Little Knits. At least the Silky Wool I bought was earned through credit at the yarn shop. I'm trying not to spend money on yarn. But they were having a sale and well, I caved. This is Regia Cotton Surf in a neato purple stripe. Ok, well, technically it's called "Provence (Color #5410)" (finally something with a name!) I see me finally making myself some Jaywalkers with this. But I'll admit, probably not until next spring. But what I really went there for was the Cherry Tree Hill Supersock. Particularly the Emerald City colorway. Could you resist? Nope, neither could I. I'd like to thank everyone for their kind words in yesterdays post. I felt a need to step forward and warn my knittyhead friends about the bad apple that was taken advantage of us all. Fortunately, I'm only out a couple bucks I'd sent for gas. But on another front - I know she was collecting gifts for a RAK to Empress Harajuku, myself, I gifted a skein of Trekking XXL in a funky pink sparkley colorway, as well as a set of DPNs. I know others sent stuff too. I don't think that RAK will ever make it there. I pestered her for several weeks asking if she'd sent it yet. First - she didn't have a box the right size. Then, it was in her car but not taped up. I question it all.

Toasty Toes

Lemme tell y'all. I am continuously amazed at the generosity, thoughtfulness, and overall warm and fuzzyness that I encounter on the knittyboards. Granted, there's been some bad too (see sidenote at the bottom), but the good far outshines that. See these socks? They were knit for me by Vknits. All because of a thread in which we were discussing how many pairs of handknit socks we owned. V mentioned that she had at least 30-40 pair herself, never mind what she's made for her hubby. Jokingly, I posted my foot measurements. Wouldn't you know it, the wonderful v decided to go ahead and make me some socks? And not just any socks, but the best fitting pair I now own? They're made out of Wildefoot on size 1s. And alas, caused her hands much pain as a result. I am honored that she even continued and finished them for me. I absolutely love the detail of using a mini-cable instead of plain knits in the 2x2 ribbing, and it looks like it was followed by a round or two of purl ridges before heading into the stockinette. I am so going to use that next pair of stockinette socks I do! It's things like this that warm the cockles of the heart. Or, as Dennis Leary makes me continue to think - maybe below the cockles, maybe in the subcockle area. Maybe in the liver, maybe in the kidneys, maybe even in the colon. We just don't know. Heh. (Sidenote - if you plan to donate any money to - oh no one in particular - it's probably best to forget that idea as it won't be put to the use you intend. And if you have donated, I am so sorry that your goodwill was most likely spent on frivolous shit at the mall and not on rent, car repair, or healthcare as it should have been. And yes, I'm calling her out here in public because I can't do it on the knittyboard where it really should go, but I can't bear to stick to Dear So-and-So anymore. The goodwill of the knittyboard has been compromised, taken advantage of, but hopefully - not harmed. The more I learn about her, the less I like in the long run. If you want a taste of it, just read a bit of history on her here, specifically 38, 39 and 46. I no longer answer her repeated phone calls as I want no part of her manufactured drama. And for a much more detailed rant, please see the fabulous Roxy's rant on the subject.)

S is for...Several Things Actually

Yet again, I'm poaching from my Seattle trip for the ABC-along. Wouldn't you? I mean, it's not like I get to take vacations very often, so when I get the opportunity, I've gotta milk it for all it's worth. So, a few pics. S is for the Space Needle Too bad, as you can see in the sky, it was an overcast day. But the view is still pretty impressive. And the experience is totally worth it when you see a guy dressed up like this at the top: We aren't sure if he was wearing that on a dare or what his deal was, but yeah, red and green and frilly and SHORT! Heh. If you'd like to see more of the view from the top, see my Flickr Set. S is for Sitka Spruce On the drive back from the Oregon Coast, we saw a sign for "The largest Sitka Spruce Tree in the US" so of COURSE we had to stop and see it. Wouldn't you? Hee. At a height of 206 feet and circumference of 56 feet, this was one ginormous tree. It is also over 750 years old. Incredible. With a giant tree, comes other giant things as well. S is for Slug Check out this sucker. Dime thoughtfully included by my nephew for scale. Seriously, it was one ginormous slug. Ewwwww. And thus ends my "S."

Is That A Wagon With A Band On It I See?

Yup. I finally succumbed to the power that is the Ballband Dishcloth. I resisted for a long time, but my resolve was not as strong as my resistance to the New Kids On The Block back in the day. As soon as I saw that first cut out from Teen Beat magazine on a friend's wall, I decided I would never be a fan. And I never was. (Though I will admit to having a poster of Joey taped to the back wall of my closet for a short period of time. He was a cutie.) But I needed to find an appropriate pattern for duel-colored dishcloth for my mother for Christmas. (No, she's not just getting a dishcloth, I promise.) I pondered doing a Garterlac dishcloth, or another 3 And 1 Checked Cloth (which I will) but finally decided that the ballband cloth was exactly what this yarn called for. Duh, it's Sugar 'n Creme, of COURSE it calls for a dishcloth pattern, but I needed to show off the Salt 'n Pepper as best I could. My Mom's kitchen is Black and White and when I found this colorway I knew I had to buy some to make dishcloths for my mom. She'll probably use it as a doily to shove under her coffeemaker or something, but at least it'll match her kitchen. I have one and some balls of the Salt 'n Pepper and one and most balls of the black left. So, after a 3 and 1, I may end up doing a Garterlac with two colors. I can see it. The starting triangles would be black, then the next row of squares salt 'n pepper, then black, and so on. *sigh* In sock news, I thought you'd like to see a progress pic of my Diamante sock in Black Bunny Fibers "Citrus" Colorway. Yeah, the pattern was great but the yarn was not loving it. I've finally learned a lesson. After much thought, I decided this yarn was not meant to be Diamante. Diamante needs a solid yarn. You see, I'd joined the Hop-a-Long and wound my yarn a while back. I'd pondered knitting it up into RPM but really wanted to knit Diamante. I should have gone with my initial instinct. I think it would have worked. But I'll doing neither with this yarn. I think Wendy's Generic Feather and Fan sock pattern is what this yarn is calling out to be. So, after finishing up another Christmas Gift, I'll start anew with this yarn. I think Mamma would be proud.

A Cat's Eye View of the World

This week's blogstalking assignment is to show us your pet's view of the world. (Incidentally, if you want to join, you can, it's just a thread on the knittyboards in the SP & R.A.K. forum - go check it out.) To start, This is the view Morris has had of the world as of late. He's found a new sleeping spot. The wicker chair in my living room on top of a pillow. Yes, I took that shot over his shoulder. That's his chestal hair poking out of the right side of the shot. Kitty pr0n. Don't say I never gave y'all nuthin'. To the left, we have Ripple's view from his favorite sleeping / stalking spot. Right over my shoulder on the couch. Usually you'd see a smushed up picture of my hair since that's where his face is buried whenever I'm sitting there. It's kinda hard to take a shot like that though. Forgive me for the inaccurate photo. ;^) Whenever Morris isn't sleeping (which isn't often) you can often catch him playing. I find him doing this a lot more frequently since his teeth fell out. I think he must be feeling better since the medicine did it's job. As you see, this mysterious yellow ball is trapped inside a donut. Morris tries and tries to push the ball out of the donut, attempting to save it from it's plastic prison. But to no avail. Our hero presses on though. After trying for literally minutes at a time, you'll find him nearby, exhausted. With this view below.

Yup. Belly fur.

Tip-toe Through The...Daffodils?

Yeah, I'm seriously running out of clever titles for Yarn Pr0n Fridays. Fortunately, Bezzie's got me covered for next week (having alerted me to the upcoming Friday the 13th a while back) then I can continue with the number format. Today's feature is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the colorway "Daffodil". I bought this (just like last week's feature) when Zonda came down for a visit. I laid my eyes on this colorway and knew I had to have it. I tried to be good and not buy anything but I couldn't resist the charms of the Daffodil.

Could you? I mean, take a gander at this stuff. Doesn't it just make you smile?

Don't you just want to hold it for a while? Maybe go frolic in a field of wildflowers and sing about how you'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony? No? Oh, well, me neither. A-hem. Moving on.

You know, all this lovely Lorna's and Koigu that I have in my collection, and I have yet to knit with any of it. What's wrong with me? What am I waiting for? Well, after I finish the Anastasia Socks, I'll pick up the Purple Club I bought from Little Knits oh so long ago and make the next pair of Christmas Socks. Since they're for a particularly hard woman to please as far as fit goes, I'll be doing your basic 2x2 rib sock. Unless y'all have better suggestions for a guaranteed-to fit sock pattern. Bring it on. On another note, all these mosaics that I post? All from Flickr Toys and I highly recommend to you Flickr users to download the Flickr Uploader to upload more than 6 pics at a time. Believe me, it saves me a lot of time. Remember, if you want to join the ring, first - lemme see some examples of your pr0n somewhere on your blog. No pr0n virgins please. And if you don't have pr0n to post due to technical issues (including "I forgot") then please, post a pic of mine from my Yarn Pr0n Photoset (do not upload to your own host, just use the code as is and be sure to credit me). Best to recycle than to not have anything for the ringsurfers. Now - click the ring! (But feel free to comment first - I like comments, they put me in my happy place.)

Trixie's Handwarmers

Those of you who are fans of the show Deadwood, on HBO, may recognize these handwarmers from the Episode 33 "Amateur Night" when Trixie the Whore (come on, you know you wish that was your surname) was waiting outside the bank for Alma. Well, when I heard that MizM was going to be driving cross-country, stopping at various and sundry Deadwoodians hometowns for a visit, and that I was on her list, I started to ponder this design. I whipped out my Handy Book of Patterns and took the instructions for a glove, stopping at the knuckles instead of doing fingers. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. I duplicate stitched the design on the top. Best I could figure out from the quick flashes you see of them on the screen. So now, my friend is MizM the Whore! (Come on, you know you wanna change your name.)

Socktoberfest! A Questionnaire.

Lolly posted a list of questions she thought it would be nice to share the answers to over on her blog. So hell, why not. I'm a sock nut and I'm doing socktoberfest so yeah, let's do it. It's sort of a meme but I'll let it slide. When did you start making socks? The weekend of January 21st. That friday, the 20th, I was at the pub and then stopped by Charlotte Yarn after a few drinks, and I bought Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles. And of course, a couple Addis and some sock yarn. Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? I learned from the book. No one I knew knitted socks (yet). What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time? The Fruity Pebbles Socks were my first pair. The simple sock from Cat Bordhi's book. I finished them in one week. A record for me. Heh. And to date, they are still my best fitting pair. What would you have done differently? Absolutely nothing. What yarns have you particularly enjoyed? Cherry Tree Hill Supersock is so far my favorite sock yarn to knit with. I'm on the second Anastasia sock with this yarn and wow. It's so soft! I love it. Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? 2 circulars. Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?) I prefer a heel flap heel, but I love toe-up contruction, so I've learned the reverse engineered heel flap to compensate. It's my perfect sock! How many pairs have you made? Oh wow. Um...9 complete pairs and I have 2 more pairs in the works.

A Tale of Two Turtles

Years ago when I was a Freshmen in college, I admired an upperclassmen's necklace. It was a turtle. I had to have one just like it. It was a beautiful green stone cut into the shape of a turtle, hanging from a leather cord. I asked her where she'd gotten it, and was told the Discovery Place store in a nearby mall. Not too much longer later, I had one of my own. I wore it around my neck for the next 6 or 7 years - only removing it for special occasions that required a bit "classier" jewelry. Through several years of summer camp, a summer of painting houses (where it acquired several new colors), through graduate school and beyond, I wore this turtle. It was a part of me. 4 years ago, one of my best friends from college got married. I traveled back to NY to be with her on her special day. I even got to go with her to have her hair done at a salon that morning. They were able to fit me in and do my hair as well. It just so happens that they had a pair of earrings and a matching necklace that matched my dress perfectly. Being such a special day, I figured it warranted a change of jewelry. So I took off the turtle and I set it down to put on my newly acquired bobbles. I never saw that turtle again. I'd forgotten it at the salon. I called them and asked if they still had it. They did. I begged them to please mail it to me, it was my favorite necklace! With reluctance, they did. When the envelope arrived I was so excited. Until I saw the hole in the corner of the envelope. I called the USPS and managed to get through to their lost and found department. No luck. I was heartbroken. Last Wednesday my heart was mended. (I'm crying as I write this, I don't think she realized just how much this really did mean to me) My friend May brought me a present. The turtle came back to me.

My So-Called Abandoned Project

Blogstalking Sunday! Woo Hoo! Up this week - your oldest UFO. I started My So-Called Scarf way back in January. Remember, I've only really been knitting a year now. So my oldest project isn't that old. But nevertheless, it remains unfinished. It's the needles. They're rosewood. Or something. I got them on e-bay last year. Well, combine that with the Lion Brand Landscapes yarn and well, sticky-city. So until I dig up some sufficiently smooth size 11 needles, this shall remain abandoned. Though it is kinda pretty just hanging from the needle like that. Wall art?

Yet Another Yarn Pr0n Friday

Today, we feature some yarn I picked up when Zonda and Stephy came down for the day. We hit The Sewing Bird on the weekend before they closed, and everything was 50% off! Yay! Here, we have some Tahki Stacey Charles "Dream". An 80%Wool 20% Nylon blend. I was thinking socks. Perhaps striped. But I honestly don't know if this is the type of yarn you'd want to use for that. Yarndex describes Dream as "A worsted weight, plied yarn. Made of 80% wool and 20% nylon, each yarn has a sheen. Suited to making hats, scarves, shawls, wraps, sweaters, tank tops, vests and cardigans. It can be hand washed and dried flat. Can be used individually or combined with other yarns. " Holy Hell I'm not sure I want to make a sweater out of this stuff. It says it's worsted weight, and that it's 20 stitches over 4 inches but damn. It seems like that would make it fairly see through. Certainly not a dense fabric. I'll have to swatch it and see. Oh wait - I just found A Website that mentions that gauge is double stranded. That explains a lot. Feh, I think I'll still try out some socks. What do y'all think? Will that work? It's wool and nylon, can't be that far out there to think it'd make some cool socks. Anyway, onto the pr0n. You can also view these in full size in This Photoset. Enjoy. And please do leave me some feedback as to it's potential as socks or even something completely different.

Knitting Row Counter Bracelet

At the beginning of the year, I remember reading on the net somewhere about this thing called a row counter, but it was made out of beads and you wore it like a bracelet. What the hell? You do what with the what now? I never did have to use an abicus when I was in school, so the whole concept was rather foreign to me. A couple months ago, after I joined the Charlotte Knitting Guild several of the members asked me what the heck those things hanging from my knitting were. Ahh...the beaded stitchmarkers. So I've been asked to instruct the guild on how to make these wonderful beautimous things. I've gladly taken up the challenge. In discussing what I need to get done for the guild meeting, at my other knitting groups, my friend May asked me if I knew how to make one of these bracelet row counters. Again, the whole concept was confusing to me. Last night, in response to a query about stitch markers in crochet, she sent me this link to a very easy to follow tutorial on how to make one. Not only how to make it, but how to use the damn thing. A ha! A light clicked on. I grabbed up all my supplies, cut up a cheap bracelet for it's elastic, and set to work. I didn't have the right size beads, nor the right type of wire, but as Tim Gunn always says, I had to "Make It Work." And work it I did. So, if you've ever wondered about this fun little knitting tool, I highly recommend Katie's Tutorial. I immediately messaged her asking for permission to distribute her tutorial to the guild and she was so nice! This morning I got the sweetest message back from her giving me permission. I can't wait for next week! I'm no beading Queen, but I do have a few tricks up my sleeve now. I also have my other row counters I'll be showing them how to make. Perhaps tomorrow I'll post a little tutorial of my own on them.

Oooh! Movies!

This weekend's blogstalking activity is to flash your movie stash. I have one of those TV stands with little shelves on either side for my DVDs, but alas, it's not quite enough room for them all, of course. I'm planning on buying the cool DVD boxes like Trillian42 has. Then I can get all sorts of classy organized. First, we have my collections. I have all seasons of Futurama, Family Guy, The Simpsons (when I say all, I mean all that have been released), Dead Like Me, Mr. Bean and Deadwood. I also keep my Quentin Tarantino collection on this side. There is a method to my "organization" I swear. On the other side, we have the movies. Just straight up movies. Trillian's probably twitching right about now. No, these aren't organized. Not alphabetically, nor by genre really. Just where they fit. Then, behind curtain #1, we have my video tapes. (And Lion King stuff) I'm still working on replacing my video tapes with the DVD versions. And here, we feature my favorites. In the Television Category we have Dead Like Me and Deadwood Heh. Sounds morbid, eh? Deadwood is my all time favorite television show. We all know I do did the transcriptions which is a level of fandom not many are idiotic loyal enough to achieve. "Dead Like Me" is another favorite. Sadly, both of these shows are now cancelled. Fortunately, Deadwood still has 2-2 hour movies coming to us to wrap it up. Dead Like Me, not so lucky. It was one of the most clever shows I've seen in ages. Any show that can portray grim reapers in such a quirky and hilarious way wins my vote. Plus, Mandy Patinkon starred in it. Which brings me to my favorite movies in my collection. Just a sample, there's others. Of course, there's The Princess Bride. Then there's Ever After and O,Brother Where Art Thou? All movies I can watch over and over again and not get tired of. What are some of your favorites?

Seven Days

Seven Days since the last, seven days until the next, but the first official one for....The Ring. Dun dun dun! Heh. It's not all that evil and mysterious and freaky as the movie. Just a way for those of us with a fiber obsession to share with others the wonder that is wool and cotton and rayon and mohair and and and, well, you get it. Today, I bring you the swag from the Cherry Tree Hill Grab Bag that I got a couple weeks ago. I went for the "Blue and Greens" option for wools, and I'm mighty happy with what I got. First, is some Twister: I have no idea what to do with it yet, but whatever I do with it, I can't wait to see how it knits up. And the yardage is generous. Next is some Superwash Possum Worsted. I got 2 hanks of Teal and 1 of Bluestone. This photographed better. It's superwash, and I can see it as wristwarmers or a scarf or I dunno. Something. Maybe a small shrug like the one skein wonder? I just purchased that yesterday. I did get one other hank of a lil somethin' somethin'. And as a teaser to the birthday girl on Sunday, here's a shot, with Ripple standing guard. Pam knows about this project, so that's why I'm sharing it. I don't have the ball band on hand so I can't tell you what the yarn is, but I can tell you that every time I knit with it my hands look like I strangled a member of the blue man group, while wearing cheap jewelry. So, Happy Birthday to you, Pam, and you'll get your fuzzy feet next week. Now, go surf the ring and see what the other members have come up with.

R is for Ride the Ducks

Amphibious vehicles from some war that ended up in Seattle somehow and now serve as a means of tourism. It was pretty fun! Our "Duck" ended up with a blown out tire shortly into our tour so we had to go back and switch Ducks. Unfortunately we switched drivers too. The first guy was much funnier. Ah well. It was neat though. We were able to ride right off the highway into the water. The houseboats and house barges were such a neat sight. I could totally live like that. Unfortunately, there's no way in hell I could afford to live like that. The waterfront property is crazy stupid expensive. See? Gah! Over a quarter million for a teeny one bedroom one bath. You should see the size of these things. Insane. But the view! Just makes you want to hide in a closet and talk to a radio talk-show host doesn't it? A reminder, tomorrow is Yarn Pr0n Friday, so if you've joined the ring don't forget to post at least one good picture of fiber tomorrow. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully, all who've joined will be able post a good fiber shot. I'll be surfing the ring and commenting!

Simple Knitted Bodice

Arrr! I be a busty sea wench just in time fer Talk Like A Pirate Day. Pattern: Simple Knitted Bodice from Stitch Diva Yarn: Berroco Denim Silk in Cayenne 12 hanks plus about 1 foot of a 13th to finish binding off the neck. Doesn't that just bite? Good thing I had an extra hank. I made the Medium size, and could have gone down to the small because of my yarn sub, but I like it nice and roomy. This is definitely one of those comfy sweaters to wear just about anywhere. Modifications: I opted for symmetry and only did 10 rows instead of 15 of the purl bump pattern on the neck line. I did 20 rows straight after picking up the sleeve stitches before starting the lace panel so that it'd line up with the lace panel on the body.