Archive for January, 2008

Ahhhh. That’s Why.

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

Over the last few posts, I’ve mentioned that Abe has been acting strangely. Sometimes bad (eating my cell phone), sometimes funny (dragging stuff around), sometimes just plain weird.

Since dogs don’t talk, I’ve had to try to figure out what was going on. Along with some suggestions from verypink readers, I guessed:

1. He’s more confident now, and pushing boundaries.
2. He’s suffering a little separation anxiety, since I’ve been working longer days at The Knitting Nest.
3. He’s still dealing with the recent move and massive life changes.

Maybe, but maybe not. I learned a bit more the other day…

img_8459.JPG First up, it recently became abundantly clear that Abe had a parasite.

A seriously revolting parasite. I will not discuss the details. The vet gave him one magical pill, and he is parasite-free.

Let’s just say that it couldn’t have been comfortable for him.

img_8457.JPG While we were at the vet’s office, I also learned that Abe has a broken tooth and a gum infection! Poor baby! I swear, he hasn’t shown any signs of mouth discomfort at all.

But it’s gotta hurt, which would help to explain his behavior lately.

img_8451.JPG Here he is showing you the tooth he has to have removed. Kinda.

Mostly he is yawning.

img_8444.JPG On to better news, I am releasing a new pattern – the Felted Easter Basket.
prefelt.JPG Before felting.

This pattern uses Cascade 220 Wool. I wrote it for an upcoming class I’m teaching at The Knitting Nest.

The pattern language is really clear, and suitable for beginning knitters.

You can imagine where the proceeds from the sales are going…straight to the vet! I’m only half joking here.

felted2.JPG Felted Easter Basket pattern.

$3.00 US, via PayPal.

Ravelry details.

img_8463.JPG Ike is parasite free, with no broken teeth. When he is bad, it’s only because he chooses to be that way.

Milestone Birthday

Friday, January 25th, 2008

Fast-topic-changing Friday ahead…

Yes, a milestone birthday – but not me. (Not yet. Three more months.)

img_8400.JPG Today, Ike is 10!

Happy Birthday, my sweet Munky.

He and I have a lot of history together, and I’m so happy we found each other.

He is as active and spry as a 4-year-old.

Next…!

img_1377.jpg Carrie test-knit the 18 month size of the Fiona Baby Sundress.

Lookit how cute it is on her daughter, Becca!

img_1431.jpg Equally adorable as a top on a 3-year-old.

Thank you, Carrie! For knitting it up, as well as sending the precious pics. And for giving birth to the fashion models.

I’ll add this size to the free pattern very soon.

Next…!

img_8390.JPG Bad dog.

Next…!

untitled.JPG For those of you who are anxiously awaiting the new season of Lost, you just gotta watch this video.

It catches you up with the first three seasons in 8 minutes, and it’s really well done.

Have a great weekend!

Leave the Bottle

Friday, January 18th, 2008

Welcome to fast-topic-changing-Friday Island.

While I was drunk with power and in charge of The Knitting Nest (and having crazy sales that involved extra discounts on pink yarn), Stacy was at TNNA in California buying new stuff for the store, driving around in a convertible, and getting a tan.

It was a win-win.

Stacy also brought me some presents. Here are a couple of new things that I found especially exciting…

img_8340.JPG Like this.

This is a new idea in sock yarn, called Flat Feet.

The yarn was dyed while it was knit up into this piece of fabric, which makes for unique color patterns when it’s knit into socks. You’re supposed to unravel this as you knit, so there’s no need to wind it into a ball.

Pretty cool idea. These will be available (in all different colors) at The Knitting Nest sometime soon.

img_8341.JPG Stacy also brought me back this vibrant hank of Trekking hand-dyed sock yarn. The colors are seriously “WOW”.

I can’t wait to see what other colors she ordered.

Stacy gave these to me before she even knew about the tragic heel blowout. Very nice, but OMG! I have stash all of a sudden!

Next…!

100_1680.JPG Knits in the wild!

It’s still a little big, but here’s Molly Renee modeling the EastEnders Baby Sweater that I knit for her.

We find this child to be pretty adorable.

Next…!

img_8301.JPG Oh yeah, ha ha.

It was cute when Abe schlepped my bathroom rug outside. It was less cute when he tore up an important paper shortly after that.

It was even less cute when I found The Chartreuse Monster (my current knitting project) on my bedroom floor…

img_8344.JPG …And even LESS cute when he ate my cell phone the other day.

Not sure what’s going on here, but if I start drinking whiskey in the mornings, you’ll know why.

Please be sure to notice camouflaged Ike in this photo. He appears to be smiling.

Have a great weekend!

RIP, FO. BFN.

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008

Rest in peace, finished object. Bye for now.

Here’s the story…

socks.JPG My FAVORITE socks.

Finished back in April of 2007.

Toe-up pattern, Socks That Rock yarn. Approximately 26,680 stitches.

So vibrant, so young, and such a bright future ahead of them.

img_8303.JPG The other night I was enjoying some downtime with my homey-dogs, wearing my favorite socks and these slip-on Keens (because there is no end to the “sexy” in this house).

La, la, la. Knitting, watching tv. Time for bed.

I kicked off my shoes, and suddenly the floor felt really cold.

img_8312.JPG Noooooooooooooooo!

No warning! Just a complete heel blow-out without notice!

img_8314.JPG And the other one, too!
img_8316.JPG Rest in peace, favorite socks. You were loved to death.

From now on, I’ll knit with a second strand of heel reinforcement yarn in all of my socks. Lesson learned.

img_8296.JPG Stop. Doggie time.

Abe is proud to show me that he brought my bathroom rug outside.

I don’t understand his reasoning, but I was grateful, nonetheless.

Good boy!

Just Like Everyone Else

Friday, January 11th, 2008

Blogging from work! Yay!

Today was supposed to be a different fast-topic-changing Friday than it is, because I had a problem. I’m here at The Knitting Nest with my laptop, but my external hard drive is at home…safely keeping some of the photos I wanted to use today. Change of plans!

2183658571_947e3c9332_o.jpg This photo is from yesterday, titled “Drunk with Power”. It documents my first day in charge of the store, and is part of my 365days self-portrait photo project.

Today is my 29th day in the project.

Next…!

img_8246.JPG A customer asked me if I use these needles and this yarn to demonstrate in my classes.

Ha…no. I can barely lift them.

Next…!

img_8260_1.JPG The store shares a parking lot with a liquor store. When customers pull up, I try to figure out if they are knitters or drinkers before they walk up to the building.

Usually, I’m correct. Sometimes, not.

Next…!

img_8249.JPG The Chartreuse Monster continues to grow. It has one demand: FEED ME MORE GREEN YARN.

Nom, nom, nom.

Next…!

cropped.JPG Slacker.

Next…!

img_8241.JPG I had a really sweet photo of both of my boys that I wanted to use today…but here is a pretty cute photo of Abe, anyway.

It was his shift on Squirrel Patrol.

Have a great weekend!