Bye Bye and Hello

I’m stretching myself thin in the blog world.  I’ve started numerous blogs to write about different aspects of my life.  It’s become a little overwhelming to keep up with them and to figure out what I’m going to write for each.  I’ve stared some post but I keep putting them in a draft folder and never finishing the post.  I’ve been doing this blog thing for about 3-4 years now and my life has just changed so much that my original blog just didn’t fit.  So I made another one.  Which in the end didn’t work.  So another and another…it makes no sense, just have one place.  One Blog.  So that’s what I’m doing.  It will be about anything in my life.  Baby, husband, food, hair, hobbies, etc…  So here we go…Living My Life

So F-ing Excited!!!

In the last year or so (come to think of it, it was around the time I found out I was pregnant) I started to really enjoy cooking.  I enjoy shopping for ingredients and cooking them up with Paul as my sous chef.  So what's the problem?  There must be a problem.  Space and Storage.  Space and storage are my problems.  I have very little space to prepare recipes and storing food, forget-about-it.  How do you solve these problems?  You get a new kitchen.  Here is what I want: 1. more counter space, 2. a pantry, 3. space to get things organized (everything in it's place).

So how am I going to solve these issues...remodel the kitchen.

That's right, we are going to remodel the kitchen.  I don't mean move some things around, I mean completely gutting the kitchen and starting from the ground up.  I've designed the entire thing with all my wants and needs in mind.

Here is the concept view

And here is the inspiration and how the cabinets will look. 

I'm keeping the overall look very simple.  This way decorating can be changed whenever I want.  Oh. Oh.  I came up with the idea for the lighting above the sink.  I'm going to do pendant light with changeable shades.  I can then change the lighting with the decor.

Well, I'll keep posting with progress shots. 

Make your list and check it twice: 101 in 1001

Start Date: 06-06-10
End Date: 03-03-13
It is actually quite hard to come up with 101 goals to complete in 1001 days.  I'm at 20is on the list.  Most the goals have to do with family, fiber/yarn/knitting, and photography.  I wanted to make some goals that would be challenging and some that would be fairly easy.  Some that would take lots of planning and some that could be done on a moments notice.  You might be wondering what this is all about.  Here is an explanation.  If you decide to create a list, here is list that can help brainstorm your list. The list is categorized into places to visit, financial milestones, content to consume, physical changes, new things to learn, things to create, skills to learn, risk to take, relationships, things to own, business, and pieces of paper.  There are 10 available spaces for each category.  It's a nice tool to help brainstorm. 

So what is on my list? I'm not telling (at least not until after 03-03-10 when I've completed the list).  Sorry 'bout that. 

In other news.  I need to learn how to use a flash.  I've finally acknowledged the fact that I have little to no natural light coming into my house.  So when I need to take pics of anything in my house I have to set up my lighting which can be a real pain.  So I'm going to learn how to use a flash (not the on camera flash) in a way that will look more natural, cuz I do hate straight on flash.  Oooh, also I've recently learned how to do the lomo effect on my pics.  I love the lomo effect. 

Disney Before Lomo Effect

Disney After Lomo Effect

I just really love the hyper-reality that it creates.

.

This is hard...

See my other post on my other blog.

Designed for summer...

...or better yet designed for Florida.  Here is my call to all knitwear designers.  Design more knitwear for summer (and Florida livin').  Now, having requested this I'm also going to attempt to design some knitwear.  While knitting the Vesper pullover I came to realize some summer knitting basics.  What does a summer knit need in it's design?  In my opinion it's a few things.  First a breathable fabric.  Second the resulting garment needs to be lightweight.   and Third the garment needs to be easy to wear.  I've also come to realize that this will mean, again in my opinion, no yarn larger than sport or DK weight.  I know, this means no quick knits. 

So my first assignment (to myself) will be to study Elizabeth Zimmermann's knit designs and principles.  I'm doing this because I believe that EZ is the shiz-knit of knitting.  Only one problem most things she knit were suited for winter and northern climates.  I'm hoping that in studying her designs I'll be able to create lightweight translations.  I also hope that this will help in the future designs that I've thought up over the years but didn't really know how to create a pattern.  Such us a peasant shirt that I've been mulling around in my head. 

I'll keep you updated on how things are coming along. 

Change of mind

Yet again I'm changing my mind.  I couldn't get swatch for the Petrie sweater using Hempathy yarn.  So, while looking around on Ravelry I found this sweater which was close enough to gauge to work.  Vesper by Heidi Kirrmaier.  There seems to be a pattern here...I really like Heidi's patterns.   

Like many who have made this, I'm also going to use Roko's mods. 

Okay, here I go, I'm actually going to cast-on a new project which I haven't done in several months. 

Oh, only issues, I didn't get exact gauge which I'm hoping will not be too much of an issues.  We'll see what happens. 

Not gonna work

The yarn is not going to work and I don't have enough money to buy the yarn to knit it right now.  But, I do however have enough yarn in my stash to knit 2 sweaters.  All is not lost. 

The first is this wonderful Summer Solstice sweater designed by Heidi Kirrmaier.  I'm currently swatching for this one using Elesbeth Lavold Silky Wool in my fav color. 

The second is Petrie a Knitty pattern by Beautia Dew.  I'll be swatching that next using Elesbeth Lavold Hempathy in a navy color. 

Oooh, I also have part of the yarn to knit this tank.  Coral by Helga Isager.  I have the Noro for the accent parts and I'm wondering if I could use the fingering yarn I just bought for the body.  Only one problem.  The pattern is in Danish.  I also like the Olive Sweater by the same designer that is very similar. 

Did someone give me crack?

I can't believe that I'm going to attempt to knit a sweater on size 3 needles.  I must be insane or on crack.  The sweater that has captured my knitterly love?

pic taken from BMFA site

This is her.  The Traveling Sweater by A. Karen Alfke available from Blue Moon Fiber Arts.  The pattern uses Woobu yarn which is a 60/40 wool/bamboo blend yarn.  I'm however going to be using (I hope, if I get gauge) Ella Rae's Lace Merino which I was told is a sport weight.  I really hope I'm able to get gauge with it, I love the color.  Anyway, I think this will be a fabulous sweater even for Florida weather.  Although, if you know anything about our winter this year you know how damn cold it was.  So I'm thinking that this will be a fabulous Florida sweater thin from using the sport weight yarn yet warm from the wool content of the yarn.  

I've been busy...

No, I haven't been knitting or dying or even crafting.  I did however create something.

(crappy iphone pic)

I'm proud to introduce James David or "Nugget".  He is now 3 weeks and 4 days old and keeping his mom and dad very busy.  He is amazing.  I have not words to describe the most wonderful thing that has every happened to me.  I'm blogging about him and our adventures at Oh my god...3 hrs of sleep.  I'll also be sharing advice and helpful hints there. 

Well, Nugget is about to wake up and I'm off to fix a bottle.