Picture Post Tomorrow

I'm still here. Haven't neglected this blog. Just been fighting fatigue and have been doing all manner of networking for both the upcoming party as well as my little "endeavor" I hope to turn into a small business, though on that, I have been a big "procrastinate-y" and haven't had time or energy to go seek out a business mentor---though I do have the contact information for the local group.

Been working on my clapotis. Can't wait to finish it. I haven't gotten to the point of the decrease rows yet.

Been stifling the urge to start other projects, and yet started farting around with a two colored thread crochet pinwheel in tunisian short rows, for what I hope will be the base of a sweet little bag.

I also happened to find this inspirational piece, which I may tinker with. I love it "as is," as well as the potential for a granny square or even for a washcloth:

I found this and other lovely items over at Elly-B.

Not much to report. Photos tomorrow...

For Future Reference (Mine): Granny Square Joining Technique

I found this over at Carina's Craftblog today, and I can't wait to start using it. It falls in line with the "join as you go" method (rather than whip stitching w/a needle), and can make things go, IMHO, a bit faster.

I just need to do things the mirror image of that tute, given I'm a leftie. Seems simple enough: ch3 in first square, then 3tr in each "void" (as I call the spot between stitch clusters), and ch3 to join at the end. That's the only further interpretation I needed. And am posting it here on my blog, not for others, (never for others' benefit) but for my own. I use my blog as a scrapbook for my projects, as well as a notepad for things that inspire or perhaps might be useful in future projects.

Too bad, I'm working on a floral motif 'ghan, not in square forms, but I'm joining the individual motifs together; otherwise, I'd start a new project JUST TO USE THIS TUTE!

Thanks Carina!

Things Discussed @ Last Night's Naughty Knit Night

In no particular order:

• To the query, "Do animals suffer w/smegma?" Our think-tank of three rationalized, NO, due to most animals' ability to lick themselves or the possibility of having a companion animal do the *ahem* "grooming."
• It was mentioned that horses might be the exception to the smegma query;
• We mused about Mike Rowe's episode of Dirty Jobs wherein he was working at a horse farm, and there was a closet full of pocket pussies, one for each horse;
  
• Is smegma plural or singular; It was decided "smegmum" was plural.
• Orgazmo, Pink Flamingoes, and Meet the Feebles all were selected as possible movie choices to have running in the background at a get together for local friends participating in the WIP Wrestlemania or the Tour de Fleece;
• On the way home, the thought of "tacos" being an appropriate/inappropriate comestable for the get together was decided;
• Further thoughts on FISH TACOS were nixed;
• Perusal of a book on knots was dog eared and discussed for possible use in BDSM gear such as floggers and anal beads;
  
• Quick math was used to render a modest estimate of one Raveler's yarn stash (=$10K at a modest MINIMUM);
• Mused publicly about friend in Egypt's situation of a local man selling carrots at 2 a.m., and how the only thing worse than a 2 a.m. carrot salesman would be a door to door Vaseline salesman (mental picture: him in modest country clothing, wandering the streets with his trusty mule or donkey, with a barrel of Vaseline (TM) and a ladle, scooping and selling lube door to door);
• Further extrapolation that no good could ever come from a 2 a.m. carrot (or Vaseline) purchase;
  
• Declarations by all three of us regarding flavored lubes or condoms not tasting like what they're supposed to taste like;
• Possible run to "The Depot" for penis cake pans and penis shaped pasta;
  
• Recipe found, to be tinkered with and bourbon recommendation made for a very specific, yet ultimately unexperienced "candy stuff" made, which I hope to offer in my Etsy shop iffn' when it gets off the ground;
• The only one of us who managed to do any knitting has a repetitive stress injury from too much knitting, and was knitting real close to her body as if she had arms like a T-Rex;
  
• "Mr. Big" (in more ways than one) will be here 7/11, we're all a-titter with excitement;
• And for the second week running, my rectum signaled the end of the weekly get together, after goodbyes were made to the one gal driving home on her own, and the other friend in my vehicle with my husband, I stepped aside, shut the car door... walked 10-15 feet from my car and let my "trumpet blow" as it were, only to open the car door to the husband in total disgust and my gf laughing hysterically that I farted, loudly, in public. I still say better out than in--imagine how UNFUNNY it would be had I farted IN THE CAR.

GOOD TIMES.

Snapshots Snapped @ The Saltmine

Sometimes, the best lighting for my snapshots is the lighting at work. Ergo, I present the prototype, my first attempt at flat panel entrelac, done in the same nommy T'ika pima cotton as the entrelac in the round bag from the previous post:

I *think* I'm getting the hang of it. I think. I'm sure there'll be an easier way to do the triangles on the left side to even up the panel to form a perfect square; however, I'm a left-handed person, and I'm the queen of improvisation. I'll figure it out eventually. This might become a washcloth; or I might frog it. Who knows. Or perhaps, I'll add it to the "WIP Wrestlemania" for July.

And now for a truly pitiful image (also snapped at work):

1. These have remained open to the workplace "elements" for about 2-3 days (as of Friday; and no doubt they will be still there on Monday). Uncovered.

2. Behold the pitiful dye job for the icing, which I suppose was intended to be blue, instead it's a murky greyish color.

3. I can only deduce the intended motif was "floral" however, it does look somewhat sexual, like Georgia O'Keefe paintings are intended to look vaginal. In my perverse "eye," I see carbuncles and a clitoris, and sadly, I also see the lack of a clitoris on the companion cupcake.

4. There's nothing appealing about this "still life."

I can only imagine the thought process of bringing these *ahem* pastries to the workplace; not only are they stale, but also appear to be pecked at by birds in the wild. It's like those old Life Cereal commercials, "Give it to Mikey, he'll eat anything," however, in this instance, the subtext is that our co-workers are the collective "Mikey."

Pima Pix Per Previous Post

I'm In Love w/T'ika

Went to Annie & Co., yesterday after a doctor's visit. At first I was mezmerized by a particular colorway of some superwash Colinette; but ended up buying some T'ika pima cotton.

I love the hand of the yarn, and works up nicely. Very supple in the hands. Colors are vivid. And I like that by purchasing it, I'm contributing to their project and supporting children in the highlands of Peru.

Never heard of this brand before.

I had the skeins (three, one in ea: black, white, turquoise) all wound up for me, as it was calling to me. And I worked on a new project with it on the train, en route home.

I might just call them up to see if I can get them to mail me more, or do I have to traipse back into the city for it. I love it. I love natural fibers. It feels so good.

I also bought some Bombay yarn. Cotton. And looking at the label just now, I'm jazzed that this company is based in Barcelona, Spain, one of the places I've visited and loved so much. Perhaps a skinny clapotis is the intended use for this. I can't wait to start working it up!

What's On My Hooks...

I've been a bit busy. What with trying to get my "new endeavor" off the ground (regarding generating interest in the yarn crawls--for a fee of course), as well as getting all the information I need to set up an Etsy shop... I HAVE been crocheting and knitting and well, LIVING life offline, such as it is.

I thought I left the camera at the husband's uncles, but turns out it slipped out of my tote and onto the floor of my car. Luckily I found it, and managed to download some photos to give an idea of what's been going on in my neck of the woods.

In no particular order...

I have been working on a link for the Friendship Chain of Yarn (see the Ravelry group, as this link will take you to the blog devoted to this worthy cause). The pink one is mine. This is part of the "Cassiopeia" section; this chain will be enormous at its conclusion.

A strip type rosette worked partially in vintage ivory crochet cotton and some mauve I have hanging around. I want to find an unusual use for this and not just simply tack it onto the side of a cloche.

I received another parcel from my friend in Egypt, the matryoshka type nesting doll is from her; and at last week's naughty knit night, I received the bacon floss from one friend, and the Scottish sheep magnet (as well as a lovely antique post card depicting my family forebears surname on it) from another friend. I'm blessed to have such thoughtful friends.

While out to lunch the other day, I went to Christmas Tree Shoppes in search of some small type glass jars with lids to send out some samples of my Indian pickle, as well as see if they had any canning supplies, as I've got a batch of strawberry rhubarb, strawberry rose, and kumquat jam/marmalade eagerly waiting to be made and properly canned.

While at Christmas Tree Shoppes, I discovered BACON SALT! So needless to say, I snapped up a few! As good as it is, I put some on my hard boiled egg, and wondered to myself if I could make it... and no doubt better, too. So wait and see on this.

Busy busy here, as always. When I'm not sleeping 13 hours straight (on non work days when I can manage such a length of time like that), I'm usually going a million miles a minute.

Right now, I'm sitting here with a Turbie Twist on my head, a towel on my body, air drying as best as I can, post-shower, and waiting for one final "bathroom run" before getting dressed and braiding my hair and heading to NYC for a doctor's appointment, and possibly visiting with a friend briefly for coffee. No yarn crawls or extended day of shopping and wandering about, as I have to get back to Stepford in time for this week's naughty knit night!