Tuesday, December 28, 2004

Another new project

My Xmas gifts went over well. All except the Victoria tank, which is slightly too small in the armholes. I dread taking out the picot edging to redo the armholes. Oy. My sister has waited so long for that tank, and now she's got to wait even longer.

I am finished with the knitting portion of Zaftig. I have to get elastic and ribbon and do the crochet edging. Maybe this week.

I started Clapotis yesterday. I'm using Koigu Kersti, like LadyBean, in a bright blue mixed with pinks and purples. It's really pretty. I'm in the second section already, and hoping to get to the third and start dropping stitches soon. I believe this is the only time I'll be happy to drop a stitch.

I've been ignoring all the work on my desk...I think it's time to give in and do it.... :)

Monday, December 20, 2004

Nordic Mittens Done!

I finished them last week, but had yet to take pics. I want to show you the mess of ends that comes along with switching several colors. I told hubby that I was going to take them into a shop and pay someone to weave in all the ends for me. But I ended up doing it myself.


Horrible, isn't it? But they came out so lovely! I didn't block them, and I know I should, but I'm scared of steam blocking. I'm afraid that all my hard work will be ruined. I don't know exactly what I think is going to happen, but nevertheless, I'm scared. Here's both sides of the mitts:



You should go take a look at Stephanie's blog. She's doing the mitts in a 2 color variation, which I think is quite stunning. I wish I'd thought of that. Maybe I'll make another pair in just a 2 color combo.

Onto my newest project, Zaftig!. I started it yesterday on the way to my spa appointment and this is what I've got so far:

I've just cast on for the midriff band, and if all goes well, it'll be done tonight, minus the elastic and ribbon, that is.

I'm not quite sure what I'll work on next. I've got lots of sock yarn, and some pretty alpaca to make a scarf. I have to go shopping (I do, really!); I've wanted to write my own pattern for a tunic, and I've got it all sketched out, but I need to do dimensions and choose yarn and all. Updates as I have them.

Friday, December 17, 2004

101 Things

Because I'm a copycat and I like to do things that other people are doing....here's the latest "blog craze": 101 things about me. There's 101 because, oh, just because. :)

1. My birth certificate has the initials Y.H. as my middle name.
2. It’s really my Chinese name.
3. When I got married I officially gave myself a middle name.
4. I took my maiden name as my middle name.
5. My father passed away when I was 7.
6. Keeping my maiden name was to honor him.
7. People always assume my last name is hyphenated.
8. It’s not.
9. I just turned 30.
10. I have one brother and one sister, both younger than me.
11. I have one son.
12. I’m not having anymore kids.
13. I’ve been married for almost 6 years.
14. We got married in Vegas, at the Graceland chapel.
15. 3 days before Valentine’s day.
16. My favorite flowers are sterling roses.
17. I don’t have a favorite color.
18. I could eat Chinese food every single day and not get sick of it.
19. As well as Taco Bell.
20. I don’t eat eggplant.
21. I think it’s the only veggie I won’t eat.
22. I’ve been vision impaired since the 4th grade.
23. I’ve been wearing contacts for about 10 years.
24. My longest friendship is with someone who befriended me in the 6th grade.
25. I’ve only had 2 “real” jobs in my life.
26. The first one lasted 6 years.
27. The second is the one I’m at now.
28. I’ve been at my current job for 7 years.
29. I noticed that I do things for the “long term”.
30. I’ve only had 2 “real” relationships.
31. The first lasted 5 years.
32. The second is my current one.
33. Hubby and I have been together for almost 10 years.
34. He is my best friend.
35. My mother is a patternmaker/seamstress.
36. I can’t use a sewing machine to save my life.
37. I picked up cross stitch when in high school.
38. Interest waned thru college.
39. I picked it up again shortly after I graduated.
40. I have a bachelor’s in anthropology.
41. I went to Queen’s College in Flushing, NY.
42. Kindergarten thru high school, I attended 6 schools in total.
43. 1st thru 4th grade was at a catholic school.
44. I was raised catholic.
45. I do not practice any religion at the moment.
46. I’ve been “online” since 1993/1994.
47. BBSing is how I met hubby.
48. My screenname when I met hubby was Violet.
49. I have a tattoo of a violet.
50. I got it for my 21st birthday.
51. I’ve since added 2 more.
52. I’ve had my ears pierced multiple times.
53. I currently only wear earrings in the first holes and the one in the cartilage in my right ear.
54. I have never smoked a cigarette.
55. Not even one drag.
56. That’s one of the things I’m most proud of.
57. I started knitting in 2001.
58. I’m completely addicted.
59. Other than the one time trip to Vegas, I’ve never left the east coast.
60. The farthest west I’ve been is to Cleveland Ohio.
61. I was born in Brooklyn, NY.
62. I was raised in Queens, NY
63. I currently live in Brooklyn.
64. I am a roller coaster freak.
65. Hubby and I drove 9 hours one way, on a weekend, to Sandusky Ohio to ride roller coasters.
66. Our goal is to travel around the world to ride the different roller coasters.
67. We especially want to go to Japan.
68. As a typical NYer, I’ve only been to the “landmarks” once or twice.
69. 1999 was the last time I visited the landmarks.
70. It was the first time I climbed the steps to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
71. It was the only time I went to the top of the Towers.
72. I couldn’t boil water when I got married.
73. When we moved to our current apartment I learned how to cook.
74. I love to bake.
75. Cheesecake is my specialty.
76. Or peanut butter cup cookies.
77. I love to play board games.
78. Unfortunately, hubby isn’t a board game player.
79. Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit are my favorites.
80. I was a tomboy growing up.
81. I’m still mostly tomboy.
82. But I secretly crave the pink frilly girly stuff.
83. I went to sleepaway camp for 3 summers in a row.
84. The were the best summers of my life.
85. They are the reason my son will never go away to sleepaway camp.
86. I love to read.
87. I will read almost anything you hand me.
88. Except history.
89. My favorite authors are Anne Rice and Stephen King.
90. I have my favorite book by Anne Rice (The Witching Hour) signed by her.
91. I have varied musical tastes.
92. But I lean toward 80’s hair bands and top 40.
93. I love Billy Joel.
94. I waited in line for 5 hours while 5 months pregnant to have a cd signed.
95. Hubby went to buy me a beach chair for me to sit on in line.
96. I collect shotglasses.
97. I have over 50, from the US and several from out of the country.
98. I personally purchased maybe a dozen of them.
99. The rest are from my boss from his travels.
100. My background is ½ Chinese, and the rest is a mix of Danish, Dutch, and German.
101. There’s also a bit of Italian and American Indian, but I think it’s too little to claim.

Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Feeling the pressure

The last couple of weeks have had me feeling the Christmas pressure to finish up all those gifts that I was making. And then I realized I was making for some, and not for others, and felt guilt, so I added more to the plate. BUT, with the exception of one pair of kids mittens, I am done. YAY! Now I can go back to focusing on my Nordic mittens. I've gotten to the increases for the thumb gusset on the second mitten and hope tomorrow night's meetup will give me another couple of hours of work on it so that it's done by Christmas. Should I wrap them up and place under the tree for myself? :)

Since the pressure knitting is done, I get to really, really enjoy my massage on Sunday. My boss gave me a gift certificate to Bliss Spa for my birthday and I can't wait to go. Gives me a chance to really relax, though when I really think about it, my appointment is at 8am, and I've got to come into the city for it. So I've got to get up like I'm going to work, and really, how relaxing is that?

I leave you with this today: my friend just started a blog and you should all go visit: Milestones.