Between the Onions & the Vampires...

Well, I had a great day today. The man was in charge of the girls, and I went skedaddling off to Olds, to take a class from Cat Bordhi. I even had enough time on the way out to stop and get myself a princess coffee. Bliss.

.

I did sorely need that coffee; Eleni was up a bunch in the night. She's growing, and teething. The teeth! The teeth! Will they never arrive?

.

Speaking of teeth, I'm reading a great book about vampires right now. Well, they're sort of peripheral, but a driving part of the story. I bought the book to read on the upcoming weekend, then in a moment of weakness, I started reading it... and now I'm hooked.

.

I also just had a very funny conversation with someone who just invited me to be part of a rural shenanigan.

.

So between the phone, the book, and of course the never ending laundry, I didn't get a lot done tonite. But that's okay. I feel focused and keen, and ready to Accomplish! Everything! On My List! Tomorrow!

.

Boy. That many exclamation marks makes me tired. More later...

Wherein I Go To Bed Instead Of Banging My Head On Something

The girls went to sleep at basically the same time tonite, and have been sleeping happily. I decided to sit down & get the Lilacken shawl's yardage figured out.
.
Actually, I'm trying to calculate the exact cumulative stitch count.
.
Lilacken, you say? What's that?
.
It's beautiful. It's related to my Mistaken shawl - maybe her smaller, more graceful, more flexible little sister. You may have seen it last week at Make 1; Kristine from Curious Creek had one test knit in her new colorway.

(Lilacken in Enchanted Isle.)
.
The final calcs are making me crazy. I think I know I know how to do them. But I only seem to get a chance to work on them at the end of the day... and that's when my math-fu skills are suckin'.
.
I have faith that I can do it; my official plan is to rethink my current approach. Maybe I'm making a mistake in step 1, and I'm all hung up on the results from step 32. Maybe I need to do this when I'm fresh.
.

Maybe I need to make this my profile photo for everything. For some irrational reason, I love this photo of myself. It makes me laugh.
.
I'm hoping that any dreams featuring this shawl tonite are all about answers, not being trapped by an ever-increasing ruffle that cackles & refuses to admit how many stitches it is, while I try to crochet a ladder out of an ever decreasing ball of yarn to escape.
.
Serious nightmare, man. Crochet. (I hope that you all - or somebody - or anybody - appreciates that I'm trying my very best to ensure correct yardage requirements for Lilacken. I could just throw a number on it, and shrug.)
.
(PS: Links to yarn, patterns, details, etc to follow in the formal release post. This is about angst, not knitting.)

Oh, Ikea, Ikea.

It was a hectic day today - took the man to the airport, dropped something off at the accountants, went to IKEA, went to the yarn store, visited with some friends.
.
That wouldn't sound too extraordinary, but I had both girls with me. We were out & about for around six hours.
.
We went to Ikea, people. I like Ikea - I like their stuff. But I always feel the same way as I queue up for the checkout. Rage. Itching, burning, impatient rage.
.
I think that it might be my reaction to such an overwhelming amount of carefully calculated commercialism. Even at malls, there are places where nobody is trying to sell you anything.
.
Even the 50cent hotdogs only do so much to soothe the rage. Amoryn was quite good today, especially since EVERYONE coming out of Ikea had an ice cream cone. At least, once we established that "once we're done" meant "after we go through the entire store & get what we need & go through the checkout". So we did indeed get a cone for her.

.

And I found a happy place at Ikea - in the nursing room. Dim lights, Amoryn happy with an ice cream cone, Eleni happy nursing. It was very blissful.

.

(Sadly, the parking lot & the Deerfoot didn't do a lot to keep the happy place... but now I'm home again. And the girls are asleep.)

Weird Auntie, Extraordinaire

I'm friends with my nieces on Facebook. It's a good, non-interrogational way to stay connected with them.
.
And I can pass on pieces of wisdom when I think it's warranted. For example, this evening's topic:
.
Neice: Hmm ! Whatt shoudd I gett donee ? Lip or Toungee !
.
Neice's Peers: Liip : ); tounge..; do iiit; good :D
.
Me: Well, as someone who had a tongue ring, I'd say tongue. But for heavens sake, GO TO A REPUTABLE PIERCER WITH AN AUTOCLAVE!
Love, Auntie K.
.
Niece: Haha okk : ) I will !
.
Me: Good. 'Cause piercings come & piercings go, but Hep C is forever.

.

Should I write a parenting book or what? HAHAHhahahhahahaha!

Random Smattering with Bows

First, let me say that I wouldn't have done this if Mom hadn't tried the 'waterspout' look on Eleni first.

.

Also, she's making this face because I'm pointing a camera at her, not a spoon. She doesn't seem to mind the bow.

.

She wasn't willing to give me a smile, and I knew that the facewash struggle would probably knock her bow out. So this is the 'happy' version.
.
Likewise, this is Am NOT wanting her photo taken:

How can someone wearing a dress that sparkly be so mad?

.

Well, they can't be, for very long.

.

And last but not least: what do I do on a rainy day when the girls are napping?

I make chocolate chip cookies, eat them, knit, then balance out the sugar of the cookies with dill pickle dip. And knit some more.

.

Off to get the littlest girl! Maybe she'll be game for a bow again today!

And She Doesn't Even Watch Vampire Movies

Amoryn bit me today. She'd been crying, because she bomped her nose, and I was taking her upstairs. She was calming down, and snuggled into the crook of my neck, and she bit me. Hard. And wouldn't stop, even after I yelled "Ow! Stop biting!". And of course, we were on the stairs, so I couldn't even try to put her down. Also, she was attached to my neck.

.

My reptile brain took right over, and I bit her back. Which upset her, of course. I've never really gone in for matching mother-daughter clothes, but I guess coordinating bite marks are okay? Or not. It was a visceral reaction - one that I didn't think about at all.

.

I feel a little like a terrible parent. I was talking about it with S____, and she said "Of course you bit her. What else are you going to do?"

.

Blog about it, of course. And try to avoid both of our brains shorting out, because honestly, I cannot think of what else to say about it. Other than OW! - she even drew a little blood!

What Knit To Knit, Episode 1

Welcome to "What Knit To Knit"! Our hosts, Pearl & Aaron, are here to help knitters learn what they should be knitting.
.
This week, we're helping Nadine, an accountant from Dalhousie! She admits that she doesn't look at her yarn that often, but denies that she has a stash problem.
.
Let's go to the stash review room...
.
Pearl: So, Nadine, you admit that you don't look at your yarn a lot, right?
.
Nadine: Well, I get sidetracked from my projects when I do, so I try not to look at it, yeah.
.
Aaron: You know that the yarn in your stash is actually for knitting with, right? I'm not saying that you have to drop what you're working on, but you should visit your stash regularly & work on some of the projects that you feel love for.
.
Pearl: Actually, Aaron, no she shouldn't. Look at this! (Holds up novelty terry yarn.)
.
Aaron: *gasp*
.
Nadine: Hey, that was going to be a swimsuit coverup!!!
.
Pearl & Aaron: *double gasp*
.
Pearl: Maybe it's good that she hasn't gone through her stash a lot. What else is in here? Boucle. Now, boucle can be a good thing, a charming thing. But not like this. This is plastic. This is ugly plastic. Why would they ever manufacture something in these colors?
.
Aaron: And why would you ever buy it?
.
Nadine: Well, *mumbles* it was on sale...
.
Aaron: That happens to the best of us, Nadine, it's nothing to be ashamed of. We all fall prey to insanity when we see sale tags. The big thing - and I want you to pay attention here - is that you need to Let It Go. Get rid of it. Give it to a preschool for them to make arts & craft monsters with... heavens know, I can't think of what else you'd do with this!
.
Pearl: Ooo, now look at this! You should be knitting this! This is a lovely aran, and you even have a classic pattern chosen to go with it! How practical, to put the pattern in the bag with the yarn!
.
Aaron: Wow, that's a great sweater - we're talking true classic, not just code for "it's from the 1970's". Why aren't you knitting this?
.
Nadine: I, erm, I guess I forgot about it.
.
Pearl: See? Look at this color on you. It's perfect.
.
Nadine: It is, isn't it? I guess I see why I should be going through my stash more often...
.
Aaron: That's right. So that beautiful projects can be working their way up in your queue, and things like this *tosses a bundle of yarn that looks like the love child of a muppet & a shar pei* can be 'liberated'.
.
Pearl: Now how about this? Is this something you're knitting for a gift? It's a really nice yarn, you know, natural fibers, good twist. But this color Nadine, this color will be beyond unfortunate on you. Please tell me that you're making this for a friend with a radically different skin tone than you have.
.
Nadine: But it's so sunny! I thought it'd be nice in the winter, you know, with the snow!
.
Aaron: ....in the skein, sunny. On you, sickly. Do you really want to knit a sweater that's going to make you look like you have scurvy?
.
Pearl: You'd be far better off swapping this yellow - beautiful as it is - for a green or purple or ANYTHING that you can actually wear.
.
Nadine: Hmmm.
.
Pearl: Here, look at yourself. *unwinds skein & drapes around Nadine. Nadine looks awful.*
.
Nadine: Gack! Why didn't I think of that before?
.
Aaron: It's the yarn, sweetie. We all get a little drunk on the fumes sometimes. Like we've said, the important thing is to regularly stash dive & prioritize & liberate.
.
Nadine: ...*thinking*... Okay! I'm in! I'm going to commit! First, I'm never going to knit this... and that I could swap.... and...
.
*screen fades to black*
.
*Pearl's voice asking 'is that Shetland? Really? I'd love it...'
.
Tune in next week, where we visit another knitter, and help her refine her choices, and learn... What Knit To Knit!

Here Comes The Cherry Kool Aid..

I picked up a wedding gown from a garage sale about a month ago. If this was your treasured gown, you may want to look away.

.

Although I bet this dress is bringing Amoryn just as much joy as it brought you; possibly more.

.

It was originally an excessive gown - leg'o'mutton sleeves, 14' train, lace insets all over the place, beaded, pearled, sequined, etc. I imagine that it was for a petite Italian with a big Catholic wedding. It was very heavy.

.

I got it home, & broke out the scissors & the lighter. I cut off the sleeves & train, then used the lighter to singe the raw edges (possibly the only time in my life I've said "Oh good, it's polyester"). I bustled it up as much as I could, then sewed some more bustles in so that it would serve as a princess dress for a three year old.

.

It's serving very well.

.

However, I feel a bit squeamish about the prospect of Amoryn playing 'bride'. 'Princess' is bad enough.

.

So I busted out my Kool-Aid, and dumped all the cherry & strawberry I had into a big pot. Then I dumped in the wedding dress. It looked like it was headed for salmon...

.

...but after I ran it through the washer's rinse once, it's ended up as the most demure blush pink, with deeper coral pink appliques. I suspect the cotton in the lace stained better than the polyester of the dress; and the nylon of the mesh actually took the dye.

.

Some of the pearls fell off; that happens every time she puts it on. All in all, I'm well pleased with the debutante dress; and I think Amoryn will be equally delighted.

.

Now to put the hacked off train & sleeves together for a fairy cape... I may get some colored sharpies to decorate that...

.

.

(I discussed various options with a group on Ravelry - the markers aren't my idea. But it's brilliant!)

Knit A Little... Cup Corset!

On June 13th (10am-4pm), L’Arche Calgary – which creates homes and a welcoming community for people with developmental disabilities – is hosting its first annual “Give A Little Knit for L’Arche” knit-a-thon event at Eau Claire Market here in Calgary. This coincides with Knit In Public Day, and you can knit, spin, crochet, or futz with fibers however you like.

.
There are a number of ways to participate - if you're curious, check out L'Arche Calgary's Give A Little Knit website . I'd thought of volunteering to help teach beginners, but a) other plans & b) I'm a weird knitter. Instead, I've designed a free little pattern, for the beginners at the fundraiser - and everywhere - to use.
.

Behold, the Knit A Little... Cup Corset! It's a very simple little garter stitch rectangle that laces up to give a delightful and adjustable cup corset. The cup corset is an ideal beginner knit - it's small, it's simple, it's rewarding, and (if you drink a lot of hot beverages in paper cups) it's practical. (And the pattern is free. And it uses up scraps of Kureyon. What's not to like?)
.

You will need the pattern, about 25m (10g) of Kureyon, a set of 4.5mm needles, a darning needle, and either someone to teach you, or a grasp of basic knitting (cast on, knit, cast off, bind in ends).

.

Here's the link to the pattern: download now .
.
I hope you enjoy this, whether it's at L'Arche's fundraiser, or any other time!

A little bit more about L'Arche Calgary :
L’Arche Calgary is a place where people with developmental disabilities and those who share life with them live in a community designed to bring out the best of all members, mentally, physically and spiritually. L’Arche Calgary strives to create an atmosphere of acceptance and growth, while encouraging meaningful relationships between members.
.
•$50 will buy art supplies for L’Arche’s day program.
•$100 will keep the lights on in a L’Arche home for a few weeks.
•$500 will keep a L’Arche wheelchair-accessible van on the road for a month, providing a member a critical lifeline to the community.
.

L’Arche Calgary has five homes in Calgary, a Supported Independent Living Program, the Tamarack Day Program and a spiritual center.

.

L’Arche Calgary is part of an international federation of L’Arche communities, founded by Jean Vanier. Today, there are 135 L’Arche communities in 36 countries around the world.

Things We Have Learned Lately

1) The man has been away since Wednesday; I know it's only Friday, but it sure seems like a lot longer than just a couple days. I think that part of it is the weather - it's June! I want to be able to wear shorts! I want to take the electric blanket & the wool quilt off of my side of the bed! I'd like to have to wear sunscreen!

.

I know, I know. It's the weather. There's not a lot I can do about it....

.

2) Appropriate application of color & texture can help cheer me up. This sunny bfl/silk from Pigeonroof Fibers really does help. I mentioned that I lurves it as a fiber, but I was leery of spinning it in case I didn't continue to love it so much.

.

3) I caved & spun a wee little tuft. Suki is modelling the swatch I knitted because I loved the yarn so much. No idea what my end goal is, but I'll be using my spindle and making something to wear next to my skin.

.

4) I say "using my spindle" because M______, marvellous woman that she is, has lent me not one but TWO spinning wheels. The singles on the left of the spindle are my first yarn with a wheel; the far right is what M____ had spun. If you'd seen my first spindled yarn, you would be laughing right now.

.

5) M______ really is awesome. So is her daughter & her grandkids - it was a very fun morning.

.

6) Speaking of fun, as I was unable to resist the wheel, Amoryn was very capably entertaining herself. (Eleni was napping while I was spinning. This is the aftermath.)

.

7) Spinning on a wheel is waaaaaaaaaaaay faster than using a spindle. Yes, I know, DUH. However, it's one of those things that makes more of an impression as an object lesson.*

.

8) Did I mention that I was pretty absorbed by the speedy creation of yarn? Amoryn 'read' all the flyers, too.

.

9) I can take the girls out for meals. I just have to bear in mind that a) Eleni is likely to sneeze spray me with sweet potato at some time & b) shepherding two small people through a meal means that mine will either be rushed, cold, or both. That's okay though; I don't have to do the dishes at the end of it all.

.

9) I finished casting this off. And I lurves it. I would call it my Precious and croon to it, but this is far to soft & warm & fabulous to bear any comparison to poor, cold, slimy Gollum. So instead I've wound it around my neck & I'm snuggling it.

.

10) In the effort to avoid any yarn related object lessons tonite, I am NOT cutting the skein of yarn attached to this project until the morning, when I can do a critical once over in the light of day. So I won't be sleeping with it.

.

11) I stay up too late when the man is away. So I should go to bed now. Sugarplums & new projects can dance in my head!

.

.

*Another thing I learned as an object lesson? Mountains are big. Once you've ridden a bicycle over one, you really grok that. Also, people from BC LIE when they say "rolling hills".