Crafty Yogi

I'm not here

2006-05-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

Just in case you end up here wondering what's going on, I don't post here anymore as you can see. You can stay dialed in to the Adventures of the Hempress of Clean at www.whiletangerinedreams.typepad.com now. Thank you for reading!

Green Machine

2006-03-31T07:28:00.000-08:00

I joined a new Flickr group created by Curious Bird. Collages of Colour. Funny how this collage excercise brings to my attention how I'm always surrounding myself in green in this chapter of my life. New beginnings. Especially in my knitting. Come to think of it, even my "K-is for Kathy and for Knitting" bag is quite obnoxiously green as you can see for yourself:

This was one of my first ever knitting projects so that explains me looking a little "MRF" (for any of you who also think that Arrested Development is only the best show EVER! - for those of you who don't know that yet MRF stands for "Mildly Retarded Female" - Charlize Theron's special guest star appearance character).

I guess we can safely lable it Apple Green. My world's colour right now. The first colour Edie Tangerine has ever seen. I like it.

I start a knitting class on Sunday. Again, at my new favourite LYS, Make 1 Yarn Studio - half owned by Indiegirl of Indiegirl Knits. Super stoked! Saturday, instead of my usual SnB get-together I am joining Edie's favourite babysitter, Nivine - who's so Divine, for a morning yoga class. I need to balance my life here. Less online, more Divine!

But first, I'd like to show and tell what I will be posting on Ebay hopefully next week in case there are any takers reading:

A hemp baby sling (Little Star):

And a tv baby monitor my mom got me after she asked me if I wanted one and I said no thank you (never used - brand new). God love her:

Have a great weekend! Get lots of knitting done!

Sweet Tweet

2006-03-31T07:27:00.000-08:00

Well, well, well, what have we here. Let's have a little looky, looky:

Oh! Good mornin' mate! Isn't this just the bee's knees? I love it!! This is a beautiful collage concoction of Jackie's from Littlest Flower. All the way from Australia. I think the reason I'm so drawn to it is because it reminds me of this corner of the Horniman Ranch:

Very similar, no? There's always swallows zooming in and out of the little house Craig built for them. The collage literally sings to me. I'm so pleased. Thank you for your beautiful work, Jackie!

Things are gonna get HOT!

2006-03-29T07:50:00.000-08:00

The first sign of skunk cabbage in the Horniman brook. We usually trek out around this time to hang out on our land and drink in Spring - so much more pronounced in that neck of the woods. Craig's planning a roadtrip within a couple of weeks. I'm still debating whether or not to join him. Still a little chilly in the trailer for the munchkin! Plus, Craigy will get much more done without our sorry, needy souls. We'll see.

Craig busted me (yet again) emerced in reading all those wonderful, creative blogs out there and plopped this book beside and grunted "Read this":

Unbeknownst to him, I'm actually the one who purchased the book a couple of years ago (okay, maybe that is beknownst to him). This book is so nifty! Teaches you to build a cob packed, fire-fueled hot tub within a day. Oh, yeah. We just happen to have two (not one, two!) clawfoot tubs sitting in our backyard right now waiting to be all cobbed-up on the Horniman Ranch. We scored these through the Bargain Finder a couple of years ago. A house that was to be torned down sold us both tubs for only $300!! Score!

Anyway, we really need a bathing situation on the land - pronto. The plan is to build the hottubs side by side so we can enjoy a cocktail in some form after a long day of frolicking in the forest and just hold hands. That way Craig can have his very own water space lest he chooses to jacuzzi his without totally grossing me out. The beauty of cob too is you can morph beautiful images into the tubs and surrounding benches. Here is a work of the author of the book, Becky Bee:

Blissful it is. So, the hottub project has been laid onto my hands while Craig focuses on building an office in the woods and implementing infrastructure such as electricity, permits, clearing of area, well drilling etc. I'll get right on it just as soon as I quickly check out Soule Mama, Crafty Bird, now Curious Bird, Posy and also Posie and, and, and...

Leg Warmth

2006-03-28T07:42:00.000-08:00

In case you're reading this, I have a new blog address that is more interesting at: http://www.whiletangerinedreams.typepad.com/
this one will be kept as a back up but the other one is better. Trust me.

Et, tada! Voila, ici estan mon leg warmers (my apologies if you speak French or Spanish - I think I may have offended both camps). These are from the Last Minute Knitted Gifts book under the chapter entitled "Two to Four Hour Gifts". I'd like to offer they rename the chapter "My Ass". These took forever! Like, a month of steady Edie nap time. And she naps like a little baby sloth! Oh well, the joy is in the process.

Craig busted me trying to take pictures of my tube-intombed legs early this morning. I thought his eyes were going to roll right out of his cute head! He muttered something about being empathetic and offered to take a picture of me modeling these puppies. I'll spare you that scariness. Momma's got to get up mighty early to beat the Tangerine to precious morning alone time to get such things done as writing this right now.

Long story short, in the picture I'm sporting the maternity moomoo that I still find comfy and embracing a crack-ho after a late night a'crackin' appearance. I want to maintain my Calgary's Martha Stewart facade so here's a shot instead of me right by the Calgary Tower working on the legwarmers while waiting for our city's fine, clean n' green living LRT service on our big "walk" to the library on Sunday:

Oh, yes. Wondering minds want to know the deal with the felted soaps (I even got a phone call from merry ol' England about that - hello Natashia!). The deal is the wool acts as a built in wash cloth. I tried it and it is heavenly!!! Honestly, not too weird. If anything, weird in a cool way. Plus, it looks really pretty in the soap section of your shower (away from the spray, People!). And I'm thinking, once the soap's all gone, throw the leftover felt in the wash, take out, shape it, air dry and voila! Coaster! Bob's your uncle!

That Felt Good!

2006-03-27T07:46:00.000-08:00

I got around to felting some bars of soap this weekend. Oh what fun! Lots of soap groping involved but that' okay 'cuz I love my soap! Here's the tutorial I found in case you're into giving this a whirl. It's very addictive I should warn. Was tempting to slip ET some kind of magic pill to buy me some more "mommy time" to felt up a few more! That would have been naughty.

As mentioned, Make 1 Yarns wants to talk soap stuff so I thought I'd present them this week with the lovechild of my two passions, soaping and knitting (fiber anyways) to see how that goes over. As soon as Craigy's done his granola I'll have him guinea pig this in the shower to see if it's all I hyped it up to be or just a gooey mass of wet sheep (ooo, how's this for a tagline - "I Always Wanted to take a Shower with Ewe" ? Perhaps Mommy should work on that one a bit more. Here's a handy dandy shot:

I hope you had a glorious weekend. I know I did! We had a great family excursion to the main library, welcomed a friend's baby to the world at a babyshower, had Herb Mama and family over for potluck and bonfire Saturday night and, last but not least (actually it was first), Friday night's Chick Flick 'n Knit was so fabulous. We watched Love, Actually (you know, Hugh Grant, your typical British Prime MInister)and I got tonnes of knitting done. Tonnes, of course, in relation to how much I can normally get done with the munchkin around when we're trying to watch a movie.

It was almost a religous experience with the perfect movie lighting in the store, Emma Thompson's droll, stoic mutterings backdropping the soft click, click, clicking of about twelve lovey ladies stitching their love into their handywork. So enjoyable and looking forward to the next one (I believe it will be Zombie movie night though - zombie droning will be just as dramatic a backdrop I'm sure)!

Daffy Dills

2006-03-24T12:52:00.000-08:00

Daffy Dills
Originally uploaded by While Tangerine Dreams.

This is the closest pic of spring I can muster right now. To be honest, it's a pic from last spring even. I have no FO's to share unfortunately but I'm sure things will be different come Monday.

Tonight's the much anticipated Chick Flick Night at Make 1 Yarns - lots of knitting will be accomplished tonight while knoshing and crying from on-screen sappiness (or at least tears of laughing from the cheesiness of it all). So sweet the owner, Amy - of Indiegirl fame. Really embracing the concept of a local community of knitters/crocheters, she requested when I popped in for a quick visit yesterday that her store carry my line of soaps to sample in the loo as well as displayed to sell. Wohoo! Thanks Amy. Nice to tell my husband that a yarn store visit has been lucrative for a change!

Edie's Birth

2006-03-23T08:25:00.001-08:00

We had a former coworker of Craig's come by with his wife last night to talk about birthing. They are quickly expecting and wanted to hear about a positive birth experience so I was way too happy to oblige. I can talk about natural child birth till the cows come home. This is one of my favourite shots of that special weekend.

Enough baby talk already. Oh. wait. Here is some of that loot I need to discard due to our possible move here shortly. Please email me at yo(underscore)gagirl(at)hotmail(dot)com if you are interested in any of the below (paypal or swap - go ahead, try me. I am trying to lighten my load, so something light) before I post it on ebay:

Here's a Tummy Tub. Suppose to mimick the womb to comfortably bath baby. I only used it twice. Too dry here in Calgary to bathe a babe much. (Asking $35 USD)

And staying on the water theme. Here's a Taylor Made water sling to take baby swimming or showering with you (they get slippery when wet those little buggers!). Used maybe twice (I own seven slings. It's an addiction) Asking $20 USD:

More slings n things tomorrow. Must feed the munchkin. She's ravenous lately. Growth spurt squirt.

Make Tonnes Yarn

2006-03-22T11:18:00.000-08:00

Yippee! My new favourite LYS is set to be open to today! Check out its total luciousness (ooooo, that felted Kureyon blankie):

Oh yeah... my boney butt's going to be making itself a happy home on that sweet Archie Bunker type spot to the left. Make One Yarn's blog has a listing of all their fabulous yarns that are all just too unreal to be real. Thus, to prove its realness, they're offering a yarn tasting tonight that I unfortunately won't be able to attend (darn, snacks will be provided). But off my Archie spot! I'll be there for chick flick night on Friday (I have forwarned my husband - there might be some rowdy knitting/cosmo drinking/chickflick watching going on)!

On another note, I was able to use up my credit, birthday coupon and gift certificates all in one excursion to the other place and here's my bootie (not my boney one):

From left to right: baby bonnets for both Edie and her best friend, Yma (might need more, huh? Love it though, Rowan Kid Classic!), some cashcotton DK for the E.B. for E.T., and found some Plaid for Mama's Creeper sweater. Still need some stuff for Craigy's sweater so I'll be booking it early on Friday for a little pre-girly movie shopping!

Geez, look at the time. Monkey's still sleeping and we have music classes at 10:00 - yikes. That's her most favourite thing in the whole world. So terribly cute. Tomorrow I'll be offering sneak previews of stuff I need out of my house before posting them onto Ebay. Hint: mostly baby related. See ya!

Next Big Tape Thang

2006-03-21T08:31:00.000-08:00

Next Big Tape Thang

This is what I scored from Knitmum through swaparama at Knitty coffeeshop - for soap of course. I remember looking at the Tape Thing book a long time ago and thinking "ooo, must get this for some summer knits" and now that I have it, everything I'm interested in is of the crochet family. Must learn to crochet! The Next Big Thing was a bonus thrown in exchange for a couple of Potty Mouth lipbalms. Thanks Knitmum!

So, like I said, we're probably moving here sooner than later and me and Craig had a family meeting about destashing our book collection. We're both book whores but I have to say we've both been pretty good lately but I'm totally going to get busted here seeing as I think he reads my blog. BUT! I came across these puppies on the kitchen table this morning as I was setting up my laptop and coffee:

It's kind of funny the contrast of the two sets of books, no? The Buddha book he got with Edie in mind. She's such a little bookworm. I took her in for a reading with an excellent Tarot reader in town and was told she was to grow up to be one of those sexy librarian types (tight buns, glasses. Look out when she peels them off). Totally happening already - except the sexy part. And the book to the right is one of the many yoga books he's been collecting (and reading) lately. My baby's so on the yogic path - truly inspiring. Especially in the morning when I sneak into the living room to grab the laptop and there he is looking so blissfully fierce in Warrior I, breathing his rejuvenating victorious breath, his body mildewy with pranic energy. Mmmmm. Yeah. My coffee tastes good.

Hello, Spring!

2006-03-20T08:53:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited about Equinox. I love living in a part of the world that the seasons are so distinct yet blurred into one (Calgary is known for snowing at some insane point in the summer and for scorchers in the middle of winter thanks to menopausal Sister Chinook). Here's the beauty of a typical never-know-what-you'll-get-in-the-morning morning here on our street this weekend:

The branches are all sugar-iced in crystals looking like they're just on the cusp of melting away - making you want to stay outside and inhale the melting icing to become one with the day. But... I had to go to the coffeeshop, get a latte in me and get knitting!

Et voila! I finally finished the back of the Electra Vest from Rowan #38: Man, I love this project. The striping is so relaxing and purdy to look at as it unfolds. I'm using Spring as a springboard to giddyup on this cuz I gots to get started on Edie's Easter bunny surprize (I was going to present it to her on Easter Sunday. I'm gonna sneak out of bed and replace my body with the Easter bunny, ala Godfather horse head scene).

I also finished one of the legwarmers but I don't want to expose you guys to its itchiness lest it affects your laptop monitors somehow. The itchy factor could be all in my head I suppose. I was psyching myself out for a sticking my foot in and enveloping my lower limb into a soft cloud of hot pink cotton candy experience. Perhaps I should have then purchase the recommended mohair/silk blend yarn as oppose to some mohair/can't pronounce the chemical name blend? Stupid rookie knitter.

Back to Work

2006-03-17T07:57:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all the well wishers (thanks, Robin). We're all feeling much better now. Nothing like having the whole family sick to make you appreciate the good health we've been blessed with for the most part. I'm meeting a blast from my past for lunch today. He was my best friend at work in my past life as an office worker. I use to work in an ad agency and he was the graphic designer in our department so we worked closely together. It was buddy-love at first sight. I was being introduced to everyone around the office and when we came to our area (it was "open area concept" you know?) I saw all the photos of Saabs behind his desk and I was like - I love Saabs - which I do. AND then on my first day of work, he was kind of the DJ of our area - he had the ghettoblaster- he threw in this obscure cd I've been searching forever for - The New Fast Automatic Daffidols. And I was like - I LOVE these guys! Anyways, from then on he was my JJ and I was his KK.

So, he now just happens to work close to the LYS that I have tonnes of credit and gift certificates from my birthday, so we're going to do lunch after I do me a little shopping (I'm wiggling my fingers right now with one eyebrow higher than the other). I'm going to use some of my credit to make Craigy a sweater that fits, find some stuff to make E.T. an Easter Bunny (whenever I'm looking through Last Minute Knitted Gifts and she sees the stuffed Bunny in there she goes crazy) and lots of new crystal kids arriving to this planet that deserve an umbilical cord hat so perhaps some Noro? Oh, yes, baby needs a bonnet (this too from Last Minute Gifts), and baby also needs some legwarmers. I need to find her some mohair/silk cuz my legwarmers are itchy. Damn it!

I'm just so happy to be feeling productive again. Lots to do! Tyla's coming over tonight for Friday night soapmaking/legwarmermaking session and now with Craig's new job opportunity, we have to start slaughing off some belongings to declutter if we're going to be moving soon. Perhaps I'll post some of the stuff I'll be getting rid of in the future in case there are any swappers out there who may be interested (lots of cool baby stuff!).

I don't have a picture of JJ handy but now's a good opportunity to introduce Miss Kitty! to you. She's my best girlfriend. I've had her since I was sixteen (she's old - 18!). She's met all my boyfriends but she loves Craig best. Actually, I think she now loves Edie best (thank God! I was a bit worried about sibling rivalry).

And here's me pregnant just because I felt so good when I was pregnant and I haven't seen these in a long time! Have a great weekend and hopefully have some FO's to post on Monday!

March 17, 2006 in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Movin' on Up!

2006-03-16T14:06:00.000-08:00

Here are some shots of my soapmaking supplies that will soon be leaving my home. The big bottles of essential oils on the top are the stuff I use for soap. The bottom shelf stuff I use for our little family's therapeutic needs.

For instance, these days we're all a touch sick and eucaplyptus and rosemary are always burning or steaming up a storm somewhere around here.

I have two more soap training sessions with Tyla then will be moving the ingredients and tools to her new place. I'll definately be missing how a soapmaking session makes our house smell sooooo good. Even our neighbours comment on how good it smells and some of them have never stepped foot inside.

Though I'm getting nostalgic, this is good timing cuz Horniman developments are in the works and looks like we may be moving sooner than previously expected! More on that later. Need to declutter tonnes so look like Ebay time may be just around the corner!

Here's a wee corner of my craft/soap room that I'll miss seeing going. Some dried flowers and herbs used to pretty up my creations. Enough sentimental-ness. My sicky baby's beckoning. Time for Oprah and legwarmer finishing-uping!

Sublime Past Time

2006-03-15T08:03:00.000-08:00

Guess who was playing with her stitch-it kit again? That was fun. I finally finished Colleen's tea towels. They turned out so pretty - will totally suit her cute little retro-kitchen. Colleen's a master herbalist and is always so generous with her knowledge and advice. Which is so especially appreciative by a first time mom. She also happens to be part of one of the couples moving out close to the Horniman Ranch (where's there's always a party in your pants - sung to the tune of the Polka Dot Door) - Yay! It's pretty mind-blowing how much herbalists seem to know. Plants and herbs are truly from out of this world. Especially mushrooms - but that's for a different post.

Here's some close-ups: Notice how I am lacking in the ironing gene.
And no matter how careful I try to be with not dirtying something, the more coffee grounds I'll get on it. Colleen, if you're reading, that's herbal tea remedy depicted on there. But there's also coffee too. I meant to do that. Yeah.

I love the sublime stitch it kit but at the same time there's this feeling like I'm cheating or something. I'm going to look on craftster (they have an embroidery section!) on ways I can transfer images onto fabrics. It was fun to do this for a friend and in the future it will take less time than to knit up something "in a Jiffy". Knitting's taking me so long lately it seems. I have projects piling in my head (baby needs an Easter bunny knitted up and a bonnet before her noggin's too big!) and poor Craigy's still waiting for his sweater.

We'll see you soon at the Horniman Ranch

2006-03-14T08:05:00.000-08:00

What you see here is the Horniman Brook. We have three creeks that run through our six acres in BC and the main one is this one; thus the name, Horniman Ranch. As a "dating couple" we went on a road trip to the area, fell in love (with each other more but also this part of the world) and decided we needed to end up here. Our honeymoon we invited along six friends and we all in the end purchased land during that year - about four years ago.

Quite beautiful seeing how everyone's property is so different from each other but still totally suits the owners and stunning in their own right. I love the majestic mountain vista of one, the roaring riverside of another but my future mothering instincts were already kicking in when shopping and we were seeking something more toddler friendly (ie no sheer cliffs to "toddler" off of). So we found this little piece of paradise in the nick of time (there was another interested party). The picture to the right is the slope which we'll be building our strawbale house into. We are close to the final tweaks on the house plans. A cute 1000 sq foot dwelling with a room of my own in the walk-in basement. Our plans now our to move out to the area this coming up fall (figuring out a job situation is tricky) and start to build in the following spring. Craig's found work that is willing to have him work off site - just some final tweaks still in that department.

So, unti we move, we spend a large part of summer out there, living in our trailer, but can't wait to get there fulltime. I'm just so looking forward to Edie frolicking out in nature and growing up a country kid. My dad was a crop duster when I was growing up so we spent a lot of time hanging out at his clients' farms in the summer. I was so envious and wanted to stay there with the farmer's kids. So, yeah, with my love of knitting now perhaps raise some Horniman sheep?

Okay, one more shot. Let's make it the money shot. Here's the outhouse Craig built. Him and Edie having some quality time together. Love her expression in this shot!

Tangerine Dream

2006-03-13T10:38:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy weekend with a couple of dinner parties, lots of drumming, soap making and runny noses. At the same time I've been plugging away at a few different projects (four to be exact) and have no FO to tell of so here's a blast from needles past.

I made this sweater for Edie in January and she hasn't taken it off since! The pattern's from a Rowan Baby book that I can't recall the exact name of, got it from the library. I am so happy how it turned out. It really suits her.

I got the Tangerine buttons from Fresh Baked Goods. I also ordered some alphabet buttons for future projects - particularly a couple of "E"s, a "D" and an "I".

Edie's not feeling so hot. she's slung over my arm. bit of a fever. poor monkey!

Swap Score!

2006-03-11T08:11:00.000-08:00

My husband called me self-observant for taking so many pictures of myself lately for my blogs. But how else am I to model all that creative energy out there? Here I am self-observing myself again wearing the legwarmers and hat I traded with Anni for soap:

The legwarmers are knitted on top and are a luxurious velvet on bottom. The hat's crocheted and then draped with green faux fur. Cha, cha, cha!

Good from Far but Far from Good

2006-03-10T08:23:00.000-08:00

That's what we use to say, me and my friend Brenda, after doing our nails in a rush before going out to get wasted. I have a complex love/hate relationship with my completed skirt for the Sew? I Knit! sewalong.

But, more importantly, little Edie loves the Kitty cat I embroidered on the front!
But, the skirt's too big. Damn it! I need to think of a buddy who would wear a kitty skirt and is around this size (I think I have someone in mind and her name ryhmes with Niche). I was so torned as to which size to go with. My waist is about three sizes bigger than my hips (more of an upside down pair?) so I compromised an inbetween size. Lesson learned? There are no compromises in sewing.

Also, my invisible zipper is highly visible. I tried getting Craig to get a closeup of that eyesore:

At least you can see how the back of the skirt is about an inch higher than the front. This is so disgraceful for the daughter of a professional seamstress! Oh well, when Mumsy gets back from Snowbirding (not snowboarding, she's about as opposite as a snowboarder as you can possibly imagine) we're going to have weekly sewing tutorials from her home. I got all these patterns from Hot Patterns that I'm so not going to attempt until those sessions!

Oh well, lots learned here. Another lesson, this didn't take as long as I thought it would. Just a few "I'm just running down to the basement for a bit, okay?" moments and fini! I think I'll have enough time to tackle skirt number two. My "Graffiti City" fabric and using the shorter version of this pattern. So Fly!

Hempress In Training

2006-03-08T06:26:00.000-08:00

Yikes! I almost sold my soap company but am no longer. Long story, but when the interested party backed out I found myself breathing an aromatherapeutic sigh of relief. I guess I wasn't ready to put my baby up for adoption. My mind immediately started chug, chug, chugging with new ideas to move the business forward, and most importantly I decided which aspects of it I want to hand the reigns over to. So, to keep my time open for my other "crafty" and "yogi" pursuits, I decided to hire me a "Soap Bitch" (she requested that specific title, I prefer "Hempress In Training" or "HIT"). I'm training Tyla right now to make my soap, carefully following my top secret recipe perfected over the years, so I can concentrate on the marketing and following my other creative pursuits. Plus, we may be moving in September to the Horniman Ranch (our six acres in the Kootenays) so this may be the perfect time to orchestrate a situation like this. Things may be hectic for a while as we build our strawbale dream home and Mama's got to learn to garden, raise sheep and spin wool!

On the knitting front, I've made some headway on the Easy Leg Warmers while watching Walk the Line while Edie was napping yesterday. Only made it three quarters through the movie then The Munchkin woke up. I had to stop knitting because she kept wanting to try them on. Looks like somebody's going to be sporting Mommy 'n Me matching legwarmers!

The Littlest Tangerine

2006-03-06T08:52:00.000-08:00

Everyone wonders: who is this Edie Tangerine everyone talks about? Here she is in all her cute glory at four months.

While Tangerine Dreams (I want to title my new blog that) that's when Mommy knits (usually). Here's a more recent shot (same part of the house - the living room. Actually the exact spot where she was born) with me sporting my brand spanking new legwarmers my friend Anni made. Beyond, Beyond Thunderdome. I haven't taken them off yet. I'll get a better shot of them tomorrow!

Speaking of legwarmers, me and Tyla are still plugging away at our Last Minute Knitted Gifts Easy Legwarmers. I'll get a photo tomorrow of my progress on that one - the batteries for the camera need recharging - I've discovered Flickr. Oh boy, I'm in real trouble now - this site is super addictive! I joined the "corners of your home" group and that has had me look at my house with a pair of fresh eyes. Kind of like how becoming a mom has me looking at the world in a similiar fashion. It's not so shabby, People! My house on the other hand could use some tidying up.

Crafty Weekend

2006-03-05T08:19:00.000-08:00

Oh mon Dieu! I've been pretty productive this weekend (thanks to a joint effort between Craig watching Edie and Edie in turn napping lots - thanks guys!). I've made good headway on my Electra vest and finished sewing my skirt!!! But, the skirt's not quite done yet. My other crafty attempt shown in the photo offers a sly hint of what the finishing touch onthe skirt will be. Check it out! I got an embrodery kit from Sublime Stitching !

This is my first project with it so far (for my buddy Herb Mama). She's been sick. Hope you're feeling better, Sweetie!!

And, on another happy note, last night I attended the Knitting Olympics Closing ceremonies at my new favourite LYS, Make 1 Yarns. There were snacks, doorprizes, wine, doorprizes, cool knittas, doorprizes. Did I mention there were doorprizes? Guess who won a $75 gift certificate to this luscious new store filled with the most glorious fibres this rookie knitter ever laid eyes on? That was one fun night. Thanks ladies!

Balance

2006-03-02T07:39:00.000-08:00

How's this as a life coping tool: morning latte. My brother gifted me the cutest kitty kat mug for xmas this year and it's the perfect size to fit my morning coffee in= BIG. To bring some sense of balance to my mornings, I'm going to check email/surf whilstI drink to Kitty's eyeballs (which Kitty will depend on my groginess) then switch to knitting till coffee's all gone or Edie wakes up. Whichever one comes first (sipping very quietly).

I have so much going on right now (who doesn't - I think this is called life) and I'm excited by recent happenings. I was thinking before about selling Do Be Clean but those negotions fell through (the interested party changed their mind) and I find myself super pumped about my soaps again! My friend Tyla's hanging out with me this weekend to watch me make soap and hopefully take over as my "soap bitch" one day. This will gift me time (gift is my favourite new noun turned verb these days) to knit up my spring 2006 collection, sew for my sewalong, not to mention hunker down on the marketing aspect of my little operation.

Exciting times! I've got so much creative juice coursing through me I feel like a giant sip sac (I use to drink these things growing up in Montreal. They look like brightly coloured breast implants that you punch a straw through and sip)!

Vest Wishes

2006-03-01T07:45:00.000-08:00

I wish I had more time to work on this - it's so adictive! I'm just learning Fair Isleing and I have to say I'm really enjoying working on this project. Even though my strings are needing detangling every five minutes and it's taking me 10 minutes on average to complete a row, I'm finding the technique amazingly relaxing. I feel like I'm playing the harp (and the harp just happens to be Edie's favourite instrument I just decided) or making magic spells with all this finger wiggling.

So, because this is my "when Mommy's by herself" project, this is what I've accomplished so far . The purple parts are Rowan Kid Silk Spray. Oooo, la, la (that's my new saying these days), I love those mohairy bits. Mohairy Bits - sounds like an intriguing movie title. I'll be knitting me up a beautiful afro next!

Sew? When I can knit?

2006-02-28T20:57:00.000-08:00

It's tough to make a balance for all my projects. Craig has been kind and giving me lots of Mommy time to tackle all these "spring is in the air" type endevours. Here's how the Sew? I Knit skirt is coming along so far:

So basically it's cut (as you can plainly see with the scissors implying I just finished cutting). Wow, cutting with scissors hasn't been this tricky since kindergarten with those fake plastic scissors. It's mentally and physically challenging. My scissors suck and some of my Kitties almost came out upside down!

Luckily I caught that in time. So far sew good! Nyuk, nyuk.

"OM" my god, it's done!

2006-02-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

I finished Craig's "OM" sweater and he threw it on and >gasp< ... it's too small!!! Ugh! I know better for next time. Craig is large, Craig is large, Craig is large.

But...

Check out my new sweater!

I am seriously bummed about this though. Not only because I lovingly knitted each stitch with an image dancing around my head of him wearing it everyday till it's holey and tattered (it is the "He'll Wear it Everday" pattern from the Yarn Girl's Guide to Simple Knits )

and not only because I obviously can't wear my favourite white Bravada nursing bra with it without looking like a loser, and not only too that the hat I made him ended up fitting Edie like a dream (he's seeing a trend here), but I had all these big plans to whip me up a sweater before the end of winter here. This is a comfy warm sweater, sure, but not my first choice of pattern for myself. I'm thinking more along the lines of "Creeper" from Rowan 38 or else the "Hourglass" from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.
Oh, well.

I have to say though, I'm pretty proud of the way the "OM" symbol on the back turned out! I drew the symbol on graph paper in my handy dandy Stitch n Bitch (am I allowed to write that?) Journal. Yay!

Almost Done!!

2006-02-16T16:00:00.000-08:00

I'm half done the sleeves for Craig's "om" sweater. I fear I might be short of yarn (keep your needles crossed!). I'm doing a trip to the yarn store with my sweet friend Tyla on Saturday morning (first a mommy's breakfast of course!) and we're going to have a postmodern legwarmers knit along! We're hoping Mommy Laura will participate in the fun too.

So, hopefully by the end of the weekend the sweater will be done like dinner and we can move on to some spring flings.

Oh yes, speaking of spring. Still waiting on my reprodepot fabric to get here so I can sew along. I got a postmaster notice (do people use that term or is that past-life regression talking?) so hopefully it's for dem goods!

Works in progress

2006-02-13T08:33:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to get more familiar with this blogging business and spent almost the whole of my precious "mommy time" - Edie sleeping in - trying to figure out some basic but cool features. I want to have a listing of works in progress, blogs I blike and get my butt in gear to take some pics of my knitting on needles.

Ahhhh.

Anyway, while I wait for support to get back to me, I want to share that I was falling asleep last night I was dreaming of knitting to come. I was going to make everyone in my family a sweater before winter slipped away and so far I'm almost two thirds through with that mission (family meaing me, Craig and Edie). BUT, as Craig so kindly pointed out winter's never really came to this neck of the woods. So I was drifting off to dreams of spring knitting. Since this is my first spring as a knitter it was pretty exciting to try and think what that entails.

I decided... accessories! I want to make a chinese charm bag hopefully out of recycled sari, some postmodern leg warmers that I bought some Louisa Harding expressions for, some Kidsilk Haze arm warmers from Rowan no. 38 (first attempt at cabling People!!), a felted evening bag from that same book, and felted jewlery in general.

And, in between all of that I still want to learn to sew, spin and practice more yoga. Thank god Craig's so patient.

Here's a taste of spring to encompass the spirit of my accessory fantasy. I bring to you the Horniman Ranch in spring...

Make 1Yarn Store

2006-02-09T08:25:00.000-08:00

I'm soooooo excited about this studio opening. Make 1Yarn is offering a plethera of classes and community events to keep those projects and connection with other local knitters happening! Wohooo! Only thing I'm going to suggest is some kind of babyminding or play area so I can pretty much set up camp there full time.

Loving how they're setting all the events so they coincide with snacks. Chick flicks, yarn tasting, bookclubs, tons of classes .... and on and on. Hot damn!

This is my spring fling...

2006-02-08T12:45:00.000-08:00

skirt! One of these two or both. The slutty one with the Graffitti City - to be all Fly Girl and the more demure one with brown paisly or Fashion Pussy Gatos! Meowwrr!

Stop The Presses!

2006-02-06T14:48:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much to Jessica, she brought something terribly important to my attention. I was able to cancel my order for the Buddha fabric. It is disrespectful to sit on the Buddha's face. I was told that too on a meditation course by a monk. When will I learn? Now I will. So in lieu of the pretty though contraversial Buddha print I decided to go with Grafitti City:

Hopefully I won't offend any city officials trying to clean our streets1 ;)

First Post!

2006-02-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

Just thought I should start a blog to assist in keeping all my interests balanced and shared. I spent the weekend in a yoga workshop (David Swenson) and am now jonesing to dive into my other yoga: knitting.

I've also signed up for the Sew? I knit!

team so I'm super stoked to get my spring fling skirt started. I'm going to sew a skirt from either this:

With an embroidered Kitty on the front OR:

and then when people asked me if I'm buddhist I'll say no but my skirt is!!

Oh yeah, I'm currently knitting my husband a sweater from Yarn Girls' Guide to Knitting (with an OM symbol on the back, cuz he's yogi too, not so much crafty) and myself the vest on the cover of Rowan no. 38 (see left). My first time fair isling so I'm doing this in turn with a knitting class.