What a Bag!

IMGP8583,
originally uploaded by westozcaat.

Wow what a great bag from my Ravelry swap pal PURPLE STITCHES!!! Thanks times 100.

It was filled (see flickr) with great goodies, a notepad and pen, point protectors (v. needed) a knitters gauge, tape measure with beaded cover, and jo sharp yarn samples- hello someone has been stalking me- I LOVE shade cards.

And the bag- wow. Based on the knitting needle bag but in a great butterfly stitch in grey with red sides and LINED strap, with a centre partiton (also lined) snap closure on one half, a pocket for the notebook and some bling to make the final perfect touch.

It is really amazing. I love it (and have already filled it to take to work tomorrow to show off! Thanks again Purplestitches.


One more thing: I know I have hardly posted at all lately, and they will be only sparodic but please note I AM reading everyones posts- all the blog stalking members- I read you everyday and whilst don't comment much i am a loyal reader.

going back to petting shade cards now.....

Library Additions

I went shopping last thursday night, and then today my amazon additions to my knitting book obsession arrived.
I'm so happy I don't know what to knit next.

They are:
Essential Baby- Debbie Bliss
Weardowney Knit Couture- Henry Conway and Gail Downey
New Pathways for Sock Knitters- Cat Bordhi
The Knitter's Book of Yarn- Clara Parkes
Knitting Classic Style- Veronik Avery


New yarns in the house include: sock yarn, sock yarn and more sock yarn.
I have become a collector.

Also my large (for me) malabrigo purchase should arrive tomorrow so keep an eye out for me rolling around in it.!!

Opps I forgot to Post

As can be seen from the last post date, this blog has been neglected for far too long.

There are a few reasons for this

1) Exams

2) Travel

3) New Job!!!- I passed the exams and am now a librarian at the State Library of WA.

4) Lack of Knitting.

5) Ravelry

However, as I am now on Week 3 of the new job- I thought it was time to drag this back out of the depths of neglect and let all 2 people who have not tuned out by now, know that I am alive, knitting (more) tiny socks for tiny babies and trying to come to terms with the fact that working full time means alot less knitting time.

FO's to come, when I actually finish something.

My knitting goal for 2008- To finish all the UFO's from 2007 and not start anything new till they are finished. But given the fact I just ordered 3 new knitting books from amazon I am not sure of my chances of success!!!

Birthday Yarn Porn

On Saturday I will be 30. Happy Birthday me!!

as a present to myself I ordered some zen garden yarn from Knitting Inspirations. It is in the merino/seacell yarn and is a special aussie wildflower colourway. This one is Mottlecah. (the other one is on back order).

Anyway, it arrived today and tonight at my early birthday dinner, my sister (who is away on the weekend) and her husband gave me my pressie- a new camera!!! I am soo excited. It is a canon digital ixus 950IS with image stabaliser and all that jazz but now look at my new yarn porn photos- they are soo much better! So happy birthday me (and thanks sis!)

YPF

Just in time for YPF, a package gets delivered. It is the first month of the Yarn Collective's Sock Club, a new Aussie based sock club (that is also pay by month!)

What a great start, yummy yarn, a beautiful stitch marker from monsterknits and organic CHOCOLATE (not pictured as in fridge getting ready to be eaten) The second photo shows the colours better. Such a pretty spring colourway (cherry pie is its name) and the best part- its labeled batch #1. Whoo hoo. Now I just wait for the knitpicks needles to arrive and it will be cast on, I am thinking embossed leaves.

PS: Dear Blogstalkers, sorry for the lack of content but as assignments, exams and illness are all apparent this last month the completion of even 2 rows of knitting a sock a night have been hard to accomplish. However after exams it will return to schedule (before taking a break when i go to egypt!!!!!!)

For My Swappee

Opps- My Bad!

Ok here are the photos, my fav cup, my one cup coffee plunger and my normal coffee plunger- I think its about a 4 cup one. I also own a giant party sized one but rarely use it.

ps: the funky ruler is from Mt. Buller ski shop from according to the back when I was in year 7! I can't believe its still around.

I have been Knitting

Clue 4,
originally uploaded by westozcaat.

...But not much. Due to illness, delayed assignments now needing to be done, and upcoming exams this blog will be pretty empty till after my birthday (yep I am 30 on the 24th I know ages away still)
so what is on my needles

Lace
1) Secret of the Stole - Clue 4 Complete (see pic)
2) Mystic Waters Shawl - Clue 1, Chart A Complete, Up to Row 94 Chart B
3) MS3- no further progress (Still not started Clue 6)

Socks
1) September/October Mystery Socks from Ravelry- Just up to ribbing on front on sock 1- completed 4 rows in the last week (huge!)
2) November Mystery Sock from Ravelry- Clue Week 1 (Cuff) - One done
3) Horcrux Socks- Still in Hibernation
4) Theolonius- Still in Hibernation

Jumpers (Sweaters)
1) Cover Jumper from Interweave Summer 07- Still in Hibernation. Have done back and 3/4 front but still not sure about it as it is aran weight cotton, and therefore heavy. Thinking will frog and offer yarn for destash. If interested it is 6-7ish balls of Jo Sharp Aran Desert Cotton in Solstice (off white)

Back Soon I promise

Can Anyone Help

I am looking for the Fall 07 issues of both Knitscene and Knit 1. Neither have appeared in Australia. Any help will be appreciated and rewarded in some way :)

In news, I have been very ill for the last 3 weeks (not counting the surgery, which went well and was caught in time. The doc said had we not had health insurance by the time i got to the top of the waiting list it would of been cancer, so thank god for private health insurance!) No I have been very dizzy, lethargic, nauseas, and can't even knit! so no real progress on anthing- just a few rows a night have been all I can manage. However we are taking copius amounts of blood, and have ruled out diabetes, thyroid, iron, b12, salt and about half a dozen others so are still searching. however, I am positive it will all be ok in the end.

Ciao for now (must go sleep)

Blogstalking 2: Statues

Image00049,
originally uploaded by westozcaat.

When I was in Europe in 05/06 I found out that the Europeans LOVE their statues. Especially ones of people on horses looking triumphant over some sort of adversity, Now we all know what they look like, so I didn't post one here (though I have plenty of them). Instead I would like to show you what the main shopping street of Prague looked like when I visited. I am not sure but I think this is a permanant exhibition of strange street art. Every 100m or so was another very different type of installation. This was my favourite. Enjoy!

What Am I Worth

Dead.................... stolen from Ceallach


$6325.00The Cadaver Calculator - Find out how much your body is worth.

as for knitting, the following are being worked on (not including hiatus projects)
1) MS3 Stole (still, up to Clue 6, Chart I)
2) Secret of the Stole (Clue one done, awaiting clue 2)
3) Maia's Mystery Sock, Scheherazade's Slipper (on ravelry)- sock one done up to clues given. I did mod this one, as I cannot do the toe-up easy cast on (its too hard) I do a crochet cast on, decrease down the back, increase with patterning up the front, pick up the stitches at 30 per needle and off I go. It hasn't altered the pattern much at all, and its do-able.
4) Sideways Ribbed Baby Jacket, from Cleckheaton. Must finish and iron flat so the ribbing expands and it will actually fit the baby (good thing I did the 6-month size)
I think thats enough to keep me occupied for now.

Black Rainbow

Black Rainbow Closeup,
originally uploaded by westozcaat.

Yumm just look at this yarn.
Isn't it just sooo pretty. I think so.
It is 100g of Black Rainbow sock yarn from Irene at www.jollyjumbuck.net

thanks Irene!!

full photo on flickr

Socktopia August Mystery Socks Done

Socktopia August Mystery Socks Done,
originally uploaded by westozcaat.

Whoo hoo
After finally getting the toe instructions (damn blogger) I finished these off tonight. They are great- I love them. Thanks MommaMonkey.

Blogstalking 2: Week 2: Purse Guts

I'm behind already. Oops' blame it on bad ex-boyfriends and MS3 knitting. I am finally up to the wing, well on chart H! whoo hoo. I really want to get this done and start the other 2 mystery stoles I am doing.





So here is the purse. Its my faithful red one from when I was in Japan. I love this purse. And in it, everything from a cardigan, a book just purchased, makeup, lots of pills, ipod, knitting, etc etc etc.... (Once again how true is it that a picture tells 1000 words).





And check out these little wire guys. They were a gift from my friend who just spent 2 weeks in Namibia- so cute.






Thanks all for the kind words about asshole ex. Everyone (even my grandmother) is glad he is finally out of the picture so it is for the best.





Next challenge: Mystery Sock Toes.

Blogstalking 2: Week 2: Purse Guts

Why Men Suck*

Why men suck* or My Ex is an Asshole

*all except Ed who reads knitting blogs and is a blogstalker, so must be cool, though I don't get his thing for guns.

so this is how the story goes... we haven't been really seeing each other much over the last few months since he got back from his trip to the philipnes (that I was meant to go on)- to be exact- 3 times since august. So something is up. I thought he just was too easy going and really couldn't give a s*#T about wether he saw me or not. So I thought letting him go would be the easy option. I thought it would be easy as I had hardly seen him and didn't think it would be a problem.

So Wednesday, the following text conversation ensures:

Him: hi babe hows the studies going

Me: good but we need to talk

Him: about

Me: us

Him: when

Me: fri at pub at 6

ok no problems there

so then friday comes around. I am feeling sick about doing this btw, almost physically sick, I hate this cause deep down I still really like him.

So I get there at 6 on the dot. 10 past he is not there. I run (in the car) home.

20 past the following text exchange occurs

Him: where r u

me: u didnt show so i left

him: in front beer garden

me: come here instead

him: no neutral ground better

me: u dont have to come inside i have stuff in the oven

him: no here

so i ring: why dont u come here, he says no, i say i guess you know why i want to talk anyway, he says well it was over for me since u said u were not coming with me to phillipines (that was in MAY) , me- why didnt u say something, him- i thought it could work but it hasnt, me- well you should of said something earlier, him- yeh well

me- well i have your t-shirt, i shall stick it in the letterbox and you can pick it up, him- keep it. me - fine (hang up)

WHAT AN ASSHOLE

i was almst in tears. how could he be such a prick to let me hanging for so long, being mad and upset almost every week when i didnt hear from him for 5 months. ASSHOLE. but i have had chips and chocolate now so i feel a little better. ranting helps too.

thanks for listening. it all helps

purse guts tomorrow i promise.

And I finally finished the Breeze socks, and the socktopia ones are waiting for the toes.

No offence Monkey Mamma I have the upmost respect for you and I love your patterns, but the organisation of the suprise pattern has not been great. It is really disapointing when you post on your blog but not able to post on the socktopia one, so we can finish the pattern. Please dont take this the wrong way but maybe next time parts could be set up to automatically post each week so your loyal fans could get their fix faster.

So if anyone out there knows any cute, 30-odd, financially secure, nice, sexy, funny, sweet men- send them my way :)

Finished

Finished,
originally uploaded by westozcaat.

As promised...
The reskeined Knitpicks Bare dyed yesterday with food colouring in the crockpot.
I am happy with it. Now it is ready to be admired till a suitable pattern found!

Yarn, Dye and Help Please

I slipped, yep thats right I bought yarn. And needles, but mainly yarn.

Enough (i hope) for a top. Its new in Australia- I grabbed it right off the counter as they were unpacking it!! Its Cleckheaton Bamboo. $3.95 a ball - see why I grabbed.

the only trouble is that it is 4ply. So if anyone knows of any patterns for 4ply yarn similar to the Brioche Bodice your help would be appreciated. Greatly.

I also bought some Colinette Jitterbug. The LYS only had 4 colourways and this was my favourite of those available- Castagna. The only problem- it was $30 a skein. That for me is too much. But it will be fondled for all its expensive worth.

This weekend also bought about the great dye trial (part 2)

I have to say I am not getting much better. There are still alot of light patches where the yarn did not go through. But I do like it. Here it is cooking the 2nd lot (the blue dye.) The other one was black dye which had a lot of blue in it as well.

I think if I was to redo this I would dye it all blue first, then overdye the black.

But we shall see tomorrow how it all turns out.

Blogstalking 2: The Re-Awakening

Well its back and its bigger than Ben Hur.

I loved this last year- it gave me heaps of blogs to add to bloglines and lots of comments (yes I am proud to be a comment whore!)

so now I go to add all this years participants to my bloglines list and hope they do the same to me.

The first week is who am I? well as the saying goes a picture speaks a thousand words? This is me- Student, Knitter, Blogger, Computer Geek.

This is why you have health insurance...

Up until this year I had not had a pap smear in 8 years. Why, well my first experience was so horrible it scarred me for life- i still shudder to this day when thinking about it.

Two things made me have one this year, a friend having cervical cancer and having her cervix out at the ripe old age of 27 and bezzies promise of yarn (still waiting to win!!)

So I did.

The first one came back with a slight abnormality- no biggie, lets wait 3 months and see what happens.

The second one said it was a little less slight- ok lets make a specialist appointment.
(Pulling some strings) got an appointment for a months time.

Fast forward to today......
The specialist.
There is a problem there. It is a pre-cancer growth. It is NOT cancer. It is what will grow up to be cancer if left untreated.

The surgery (local or general knockout- i choose general) will take place either on the 26/9 or 3/10.

This is why I pay all that money to my private health insurance company.

I hate hospitals and needles and surgery but i will suffer one day in exchange for the rest of my life.

Sorry no knitting content today, the socks are growing and the baby jacket is at the 45% mark.

Sorry for the lack of postings- its due to assignment hell. I am not enjoing the current units and its showing- procrastination is the order of the day. Not much knitting either.

Regular knitting updates back soon....