Somebody spoke and I went into a dream.

Don't be a granny SQUARE

2011-04-20T10:15:00.002-05:00

Hello- back again with somewhat exciting news: I have taught myself to crochet granny squares. I have found some ancient fuel to motivate me to finally learn to crochet and that's a little something called determination. I wasn't bored with knitting, quite the opposite actually. I am always excited about knitting (too excited sometimes) but most of the time I knit for myself, I know I'm selfish like that. Crochet, I felt, was more manageable for checking people off the list of "Gifts I Still Owe"and granny squares are so:

easy-peasy to make! I am currently on the final season of Gilmore Girls and I've managed to crochet about 2.5 afghans and 30 granny squares between seasons 1-6.
if there were a reward point system for how fast I made these and there was an option to either cash in the points between a tote bag or instant gratification, I would definitely choose the later. Plus, there are so many variations for granny squares, I mean there are books just for that: 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws, and Afghans, Granny Squares Now: Dozens of Fresh Takes on a Crochet Classic... the list goes on and on!

I want to take this moment to thank these people at YouTube:

bobwilson123:
Joining Granny Squares - Part 1of 2
tjw1963:
Art of Crochet by Teresa: Crochet Traditional Granny Square 5

Anyway, this is what I have been up to in the "crafting" world. A very clever distraction from all things "grown up" I will post pictures as soon as I can.

Happy Hooking!

Becky

As Promised

2011-01-12T10:54:00.002-06:00

As promised... a new post!
Also, 'as promised' my resolutions for this year- of which I have already broken 2 of the 6. So I'm off to a terrific start! I hardly make resolutions, about once a year really, only to be broken- as promised when I make them- a few weeks into January.

Here's the list (in no particular order):

- go back to being a semi-vegetarian*, ^
* = some chicken and fish, absolutely no beef or pork
^ = broke this one by having some chorizo (pork product) and egg with my Dad a few days ago. But in my defense, I'd like to state for the record, that it was all that was in the house that we could make and that would be gone to waste within a few days.

- no dark sodas/caffeine from sodas *, ^
* = caffeine from coffee, hell yes! Otherwise how would I make it through this year? Drinking tea only? Tried that once, I'm in no way zen enough to keep my harmony in balance. But I do love tea.
^ = I broke this one last week when I visited my sister who only drinks soda, no excuse here really.

- Drive less *
* = So I drive this huge Chevy Suburban (yeah, just me in "The Tank" as I have so endearingly named it) and I remember when I used to have time to read/knit/write on the bus and now, I get to places just "on time" and I always feel there's never enough time. I guess it's the waking up 2 hours early to get ready, wait for the bus, get on the bus, and get to my destination with about 20-30 minutes to spare really adds up to a robust day.

- work out *, +
* = yeah, I know... real original. But a good friend of mine asked me to be a bridesmaid for her wedding in October and she's shown me a few of the dress ideas and they're all sleeveless and cute. I figured, what better reason to get in shape?
+ = I am happy to say that I got a gym membership at a 24 hour place that's 2 blocks away from where I live. There really is no excuse. Seriously.

- read 20 books this year *. +
* = another good friend of mine challenged herself to read 30 books this year and I thought to myself, "Hey that's a fantastic idea. But let's be honest and shoot for 20."
+ = I've read 2 books and will start my 3rd one tomorrow. I didn't see any kind of rules for this 'pledge' but I'm counting graphic novels.

Books I've Read So Far:
1. How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe: A Novel, Charles Yu
2.The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Marvel Classics)

- make something everyday *
* = Okay, I am failing miserably at this one. It's been, I think, 3 days since I promised this (and of course, in hindsight, I bit off more than I could make). But I will do my best to do it, even if it means making 5 things in one day to add up to the lost 4 days.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some other resolutions that I threw out there on New Year's Eve last year. I think the perpetual resolutions have become part of my daily life: write more, love more, and volunteer more.

I hope that in all this madness, I will see it as an incentive to visit this blog more often. Sometimes I forget that I can type this out and I know I'm reaching one person- love ya!- but that I can just leave this out there and read back on it a year from now and say, "Holy crap! What was I on? Who is that woman?"

-Hugs!-

I'm waiting for the sequel.

2010-11-10T23:15:00.005-06:00

Something must be wrong. I love to knit. However, back at my old part time job is extremely tedious. When I'm there, all I think about is travelling and finding a 'career-type-job' that will help pay off the debt. I am happy that I went to school but looking at it now, what with this clear 20/20 hindsight, there is so much debt it's repulsive.

Anyway, that's just me being me and freaking out about stuff that is coming up pretty soon and am not prepared to handle now-now but I'm really praying that I am later, when the time comes.

Other depressing things:

My laptop was stolen from my house a few months ago and yes, I am still feeling the loss.
School is over and I want nothing more than to go back.
Did I mention that I was back at my old part time job selling tickets and being yelled at by "patrons"
My very dear friend moved back home, out of the state. I am so happy for her and I always send love to them (her and her husband) every chance I get but I miss her so much, it hurts.
I have stopped knitting.
I just graduated from college into this amazingly dry job market.
I don't know what kind of job to look for in this amazingly dry job market.

So about #5, turns out arthritis runs in the family. I guess it's expected, these surprising ailments that begin to pop up between all 5 of my siblings, considering that my mother was adopted and has no history of health/mental disorders. So last year my mother found out she has rheumatoid arthritis and a couple of weeks ago, when the weather started to get cool here in Texas, I was watching a movie and felt this awful pain in my hands. I hadn't been knitting for more than 30 minutes when I felt my knuckles just kind of tense up and almost stop working (if that makes sense). My mother says, "Becky, you're over reacting and you just need to stop thinking about that stuff. Just do what you like to do, better yet, love to do and do it."

So with the arthritis scare (I'm 27) and back at my old part time job I've lost the energy to knit. I'll start something, absolutely hate it, frog it (unravel it for those of you unfamiliar with knitting jargon) and throw it across the room. I'll pick it up and look around on Ravelry for roughly 2-3 hours and look at the scrambled jumble of yarn and hope to see the project come out of it, you know, kind of how Michelangelo used to approach projects.

As for #'s 6 and 7 on that depressing list, my friend told me to ask myself what I'm happy doing and to find a job in that area and I have so many ideas that seeing myself as either of them sitting in one room is exhausting. I would love to own a store where I do nothing but sit and craft and show others all the awesome stuff they can be making instead of going to the four-letter-word to most crafters, M-A-L-L to shop for gifts and personal items. I also want to help people. I know, I'm blowing this Miss America speech for world peace, but I really want to be a part of something amazing. I also want to keep writing, but do I want to make money off of it? I also want to work at a museum and a library. See where I am going with this?

I'm reading, more like trudging through, What Color is Your Parachute? and I'm doing my best not to hyperventilate. It's not that it's a terrible read, it's pretty damn informative but after turning each page, there are questions that I can't answer and it's tough trying not to feel like I didn't study for the test that I'm being tested on at the end of a chapter.

I'm really praying that I sort some of this stuff out soon and find the Becky I used to know. Because right now, I have been going through this quarter-life crisis for about 9 years and with a college education and awesome friends and family to show for it, it's starting to get exhausting.

I don't recommend that you get sick...

2009-10-08T18:10:00.002-05:00

I am so mad at myself, for not trying hard enough, to keep from getting sick! I walked everywhere around campus (the shuttles are always packed and aparently, college kids still don't know how to cover their mouths when they cough), carry hand sanitizer and a hankerchief to sneeze/cough into it. And I got sick yesterday! Luckily I'm alreay starting to get better... I'm a good student and I hate missing classes. Oh well...

So my older sister's birthday is October 17 and I've started to know this scarf for her. I will get a picture of it as soon as it is a little longer. The catch is, she will be in town tomorrow and I have to squirrel it away. I hate putting things I really like knitting away... if I could, I would carry it around with me on campus and knit while in class. However, I can't multi-task like that and I also think it would be a little rude for my professors.

Oh well... Hope you guys have an awesome weekend!

Center Row and Seat

2009-10-04T23:19:00.003-05:00

A lady bug intended to land on my shoulder this morning, however the glass dividing us while I was on the bus squashed Luck's intentions.
It's Friday though, and here are a few "lucky" thinks that happened:
- I took a very difficult and ridiculous test for a Rome: The Empire class I am enrolled in. The grading system sucks: 2 Quizzes (25% each) and 1 Final (50% of grade). So I would have bet my entire stash of yarn that I failed it. So this morning, my jaw dropped when I received a C+ on this test! I couldn't believe it... I mean honestly, I'm just aiming for a B so at this rate, I need to keep making B's.
- I think I need to pick up crochet again... I watch GLEE and I <3 Jayma Mays as Emma Pillsbury... her outfits are amazing! So, in the episode, "Preggers" she is wearing a red knit/crochet hat with a pom-pom on top... it is sooooo cute, I have to start crocheting again!
-I am also in the process of knitting up these: http://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2009/09/movie-monday-new-moon-preview-free.html

I saw "Whip It" and it is soooo much fun! So I thought this while I was sitting alone in the theater:
It is perfectly safe to say, or rather, to recognize that this is fine, that this can be dealt with. Eventually. One day, maybe.
So, for now I can still use my imagination, especially when The Beatles are playing in the background of the theater. Those songs are the ones I imagine myself being kissed by someone who's face is obscured even by my imaginiation.
I'll figure this out.
One day, maybe.
Can it be coincident that in writing this, even Thom Yorke tells me that "True Love Waits"... what if I'm so stubborn to let go of someone who showed a little interest (when drunk) and now just wants to be friends. This sucks. So... very... frustrating!

Well I hope everyone has a lovely week!
Knit 'em if you got em!

What I Want...

2009-10-01T23:06:00.007-05:00

I think it's time to reflect (not regret) on things I really need to do, or as the title of this post states, what I want...

In no particular order:

- I want my hair to grow out faster. Seriously, this taking forever bit is starting to get old and I am already looking at cute hairstyles that are above the shoulder. So, hair, note that you are on probation for not growing fast enough... I am threatening you with scissors and possibly a little color. You have been warned.

- I am only going to ask for crafty things for my birthday/Christmas and only give things that are crafty on birthdays/Christmas. It's just win/win for me, anyway. I seriously need to take some sewing classes so that I can finally start to make my own clothes. Also, I think during Christmas break, I am going to knit a cardigan (where have I heard that before? Oh yeah! I said I was going to knit a sweater last Christmas... so, as you can see I have down graded to a cardigan).

- I will have a plan (*, see note)

- I will try to -really- stop- pinning- after- this- guy- who- just- got- out- of- a- relationship-and-I-would- do- anything- to- get- him- to- notice- me- so- that- we- can- have- a- momentary- spark- and- I- can- have- that- "I'm happy"- glow- for-as-long-as-I-can.
Pathetic.

- I need to keep writing. I took a poetry class over the summer and I loved it, and I loved that I was writing again and I loved words for those wonderful 5 1/2 weeks... it was a wonderful love affair and now I miss it. This fall semester is stifling.

So here's my list of things so far... it's a little late I still have a lot of homework to do (boo-hoo).

Hasta manana!

* In relation to the vague statement, I think it is bad luck (and I'm not that superstitious) to really go into detail about future plans like using trigger words such as: "I hope", "I wish", "I can't wait for____", "I'm so lucky", etc, because... in my experience with these "triggers" I have noticed that they never fall through. So the big, vague, drum-roll please plan is that I will try to have a plan at least by the end of December/May so that when I graduate I will feel like I have at least one foot in the door of this "real world" shenanigans.

Seriously, it's time to write again..

2009-09-29T22:14:00.009-05:00

6 months!

I can't believe I have taken this long to write something! I'd like to think that I had an amazing life, but I spent the last month of summer at school, followed by knitting and reading. Yes, I've said it once (and probably more than once) before, I am an old lady in training.

Anyway, "big stuff" usually instigates the need to write about it... to send it out into the universe. This morning, I was "fixing" my hair (a.k.a. what I think passes for a decent hairstyle: putting it up and away from my face), I noticed that I have not one, or two, or three but 4 strands of grey hair! I was running behind (typical) to catch my bus so I didn't have time to really look at them however, I was obsessed about it all day! The second I got home I walked to the restroom and scrutinized the thin strands of grey hair against my black hair. As I was perched on the counter (side saddle) I tried to think back, what moment of stress caused this strand? When did this happen? If I was so stressed to get white hair, why don't I remember? I think I would remember something big... like that. Of course, a few things did happen over the past few months. My remaining grandparent passed away in March, she was very dear and close to my heart (still is in memory). So I think 2 of those strands are in relation to that catastrophe. The other two... well... I'll have to think some more on that...

Other stuff...

Fall semester so far is "Blah..." not sure if it's a bad case of senioritis but this semseter (this moment in my life, actually) can be described as apathetic... it really isn't fun... but that's just another thing to think about... some more

And in the relationship department... it's closed down for remodeling. I don't know what to do anymore. I've been "alone" since highschool (boyfriend/attachment) and there have been a few flings here and there (the last "real" one, 2 years ago). I just... don't know what to do anymore. I've tried it all... is it so selfish to ask, "Where is he?!" Whatever. I just don't want to think about it right now.

As for knitting...here are the most recent pictures! :D

Don't worry... I am still knitting (and alive)!

2009-03-02T10:37:00.013-06:00

Hello!

I am excited to announce that I actually had a productive weekend, this past... weekend. I finished a book, "The Pact" by Jodi Picoult and it was a pretty good read. I wrote, in my Good Reads profile review,
"About 3/4 of this book is heart breaking! I believe this book is versatile enough to be read at different stages in your life and you'll find new meanings each time. This is the first time I've read this and considering the stage I am in right now, a single-26-year-old-college-girl, my emotions have been completely wrung out. However, the rest of the book (the 1/4 of it), is so hopeful it's difficult to explain how a book can be so complex. So to simply continue with my mediation on being put through the wringer, when I finished the book ( I read the last 150 pages in 1.5 hours last night), I was ready to be put on the clothes line to absorb the sun. "

And it's the truth! I still need time to think it over, I'll get back to you on more of this book.

So I said productive weekend, and I am sooooo excited because I finally (FINALLY) found and finished a yellow beret hat that seems to be stylish right now, even though winter is over. It fits a little loose, but it's the perfect length and I love, love, love it! I swear I will put picks up later today! With the pattern I found, in case anyone else out there has a big noggin' like I do! ^_^

As for what else is going on in my life... where do I start?

I'll start with the... another disappointing attempt at dating. The motorcycle guy... didn't work out as I planned, but then again, when does anything ever go according to plan? So a friend of mine told me, that I should "just keep trying" and "just keep putting yourself out there, eventually something will fall into your tractor beam." It sounded funny at the time but now that I think about it, it is really very clever--- the tractor beam bit, not the boomerang theory.
I mean, how much of me do I have to throw out there to get one person? Well now that I think about... there are a lot of people in this city, let alone on this planet! Have I been a silent believer of the soul-mate theory? How long have I been secretly harboring this? Holy crap! How long have I been trying to hold my tiny vigil candle on the shore in front of a hurricane? What is my mantra, I'm a hopeless romantic-I'm a hopeless romantic-I'm a hopeless romantic? Ugh, before this mess with motorcycle guy, I was frustrated in all kinds of ways that I hope to never relive but now... NOW, I am so disillusioned by this escapade I'm throwing myself out there unenthusiastically.
It's not in my character.
My motivation has been watered down.
I'm just going to have to take a deep breath, recuperate, count my loses and in "maiden meditation," be "fancy free."

I've officially been labeled a "senior" in my school records and I thought of suggesting a hyphon for that label, it should read "havenoideawhattodo-senior." I'm not sure how they'd handle that. I'm not at full freak-out mode but I'm starting to really question, what the hell am I going to do int he "real world"? I'm sure there are options out there for an English major but in this economy?! Are you kidding me? I should've gone into education... an easy way out (no offense to the educators out there, it's was my fall-back-on-plan in an event of career hyperventalation). So I'm going to start looking around for education options that I may still have at this point. I'm not too optimistic about it.

Well, okay. I think I'm done crying on this e-shoulder called a half-assed blog. I will post pics up as soon as I get home.

Cheers!

Hooray for Coraline!

2009-02-08T01:27:00.002-06:00

So I saw Coraline and I must say it is a technicolor extravaganza!

In honor of this movie and one of my favorite books I made one of Coraline's "other-world" dolls, and once you see the movie, you'll see why I made this doll, he is so sassy!

Shenanigans...

2009-01-23T14:23:00.004-06:00

So I'm done with the first week of school and I have to say that my Shakespeare class is going to bury me alive in words that have *'s and mean something else. I foresee, already, many headaches in my very near future.

If I haven't mentioned this, I have been "seeing" someone lately. I use " 's because he lives in another city about 15-20 miles away from me so we chat, text, talk on the phone everyday. I like him, I must admit but when I say like I feel like Marianne (played by Kate Winslet) in Sense and Sensibility after her sister Elinor (played by Emma Thompson) says: Elinor Dashwood: I do not attempt to deny that I think very highly of him - that I greatly esteem him... I like him.
Marianne: Esteem him? Like him? Use those insipid words again and I shall leave the room this instant.

I kind of worry that I may come off a little too much like Marianne when, in the blossoming of this relationship, I should be thinking with my head, like Elinor does. I don't know, I do love Marianne's passion... I definatly and always will relate to her when it comes to love and fervor.

My new favorite obsession (besides knitting):

It's a tie:

Feathers and ADELE's album, 19
I love feathers in my hair and ADELE makes me happy to wear feathers in my hair and appreciate this cloud 9 feeling...

So this is a knitting blog, right?

That's what I thought. :P

So I have stopped knitting, because of before mentioned Shakespeare class but the weeks before school started I managed to whip up 4 hats, three cowls and have a work in progress cowl. I
LOVE cowls, they are fast and easy and oh-so-cute!

I'm also in love with the Basketweave stitch... it's so marvelous!
This is the WIP:
Size 19 needles, Rowan Romance yarn

How I love basketweave stitch...

This is one of the hats, it came out a little short but I blocked it and it worked out nicely, even after adding a cute knit flower!

And this is a feather accessory I made.

Hazards of 25

2008-12-13T15:46:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I've been 26 for *looking at watch* a week and 16 hours and this is what I have to say:

It still feels the same as 25, oddly enough I miss 25--- it's a nice round sounding number, 26 is just so rough. I've a few new mottos, dislikes, ambitions, movies and me stuff that I think I should put down before I forget.

1. Write things down before you forget them. I don't know how many times it has happened over my entire lifetime but it's on top of the list... starting today.

2. Felicity and farcity (if that's not a word, I'm making it up right now) should be handled like a thermostat. I realized this while I slept alone last night, in the coldest room on the other end of the house, when the heater turnd on and the rattling vent put me to sleep. Just when you think things are getting too cold, too awful and disgustingly low--- the heat is turned on, just like that *snap your fingers to see what I mean...* snap... just. like. that.
There's that old cliche that says something in the vein of, "when things get really shitty enough, that's when they start to get better." Well it's true. Of course, I haven't felt the really really really lows of life but falling out of love and getting into a University on my own terms kind of evens it out for me.
And then there's the opposite to the farcity, felicity. Just when everything gets amazing, let's say at a comfortable 70 degrees, the a/c turns on to lower you just enough to remember what 70 degrees felt like, amazing.

3. Slumdog Millionare and The Dark Knight are the best movies I have seen this year. Watch them.

4.My ambition for 26 (a recap: ambition at 24- go abroad [check], at 25- visit another city in the states [check]), road trip during summer vacation or go on a cruise.

5. Goals:
* aside from the typical goals: lose weight, do well in school, etc.
- I really need to learn spanish.
- I will read more!
- I'm going to write more
- I'm going to try to recognize that being single is just fine. F.I.N.E.
- Do my best not to google images of the following guys: Robert Pattinson and Milo Ventimiglia(clearly... I have a... type)
- Get out more
- Never be intimidated
- Try to sell some of my craft stuff

6. I dislike:

... being the odd wheel (3rd,5th even 7th wheel) when it comes to going out with friends and trust me, it's better if they don't accomidate me by giving sideways glances and half smiles, trust me it only makes me feel like shit. Instead, remember that I'm okay with everything, seriously. I don't like to be made the odd wheel by anyone and that happens when someone goes out of their way to make me remember that.

...people who talk in libraries.
... people who talk during a movie.
... how my room is ALWAYS a mess.
... "Sasha Fierce/Bionce," get over yourself
... that I went out of my way to mention the previous dislike
...having so many craft projects and not enough time!

Okay I may have strayed a little in this entry but I just had to put what was on my mind into some sort of writing so that I wouldn't lose it completely. Thanks.

She's Crafty!

2008-12-12T18:36:00.005-06:00

I've finished two scarves, a hat and just about finished with these shoes:

I saw a pair of converse shoes online for $98 with sequins all over them. So I figured I'd try it. So far so good, not as fancy as the shoes for sale but I'm working on it--- I'm thinking, glitter.

Here are the scarves I finished and the hat.

A knit gift for the middle

2008-11-19T15:43:00.003-06:00

My eldest sister, Cristina celebrates her birthday in June, so she doesn't get anything knit from me because I don't think that far ahead sometimes to winter: when she could use a cute scarf made by yours truly. So to compensate for the upcoming cold weather, between her birthday and Christmas- I knit her a scarf.

I used one skein of Moonlight Mohair by Lion Brand and size 17 needles, using a simple stockinette stitch. It took about 1.5-2 hours to make and she loves it! Hooray!

And the universe said... "Becky, your jar is open."

2008-11-19T13:10:00.002-06:00

I finally got my copy of The Secret Lives of Bees on audio disc and I'm devouring every moment of it!

I've a new knitting idea I may try to work on which involves drum roll please....
crocheting!
Well not an entirely crochet piece but a little "hook" embellishment I look forward to working out. I've drawn up the blue-prints for the new project and think it can be done. So here's what I'm going to work on:

PB & J Knit Tote

So I was thinking of knitting a gusset that would count as both a gusset and strap for the purse in a tan color. Then, in beige/taupe (don't know yet) I'd knit two panels. Then, depending on what I'm in the mood for, I'll knit an exterior pocket in either purple (grape jelly) or red (strawberry). But now that I think of it, I'm afraid the red will make the purse look like a used sanitary napkin. Dang! We'll see. Oh yeah, so the crochet part, I was thinking of making a small coinpurse in the shape of a peanut butter jar. But if the hook intimidates me I'll just have to knit an i-cord wrap it around an empty toilet paper roll and then line it with some felt/fabric. Then I'd have to add some metal hardware to the coin purse: a chain and a zipper.

What do you think?
It's king of hard to imagine it with this abstract paragraph but it's in my head, trust me. I think I'll start working on it during Thanksgiving holiday and I'll put up pics for you to see.

Okay... so that's it for the knitting part of the blog. Now the fun stuff...

Something has been bothering me for a couple of weeks, and if you know me and my writing you know that I am too observant sometimes. In the past couple of weeks I have noticed that the universe is reminding me how pathertic and uncomfortable it is to be the odd-numbered-wheel. I went to a concert with my sister and it turns out, not only was I at-the-last-minute-invited but I was the 7th wheel. My sister with her boyfriend, my other sister with her boyfriend and my sister's friend with her boyfriend. Awesome.
It was a fun show, another reminder that I am getting too old for concerts where I stand for 2 hours, but it was fun and uncomfortable. Everyone was standing in their little pairs and I was in single-spare-tire-purgatory! Ugh! I did my best to feel like it was all awesome and "okay" but holy shit I wanted to run out of there as fast as I could, smoke a cigarette, drink something with alchohol and do my best to forget the lonliness.
I thought I had a handle on rejection, but who's kidding who? Nobody gets over rejection. The guy I was sure was going to be fun and loving let me down in the worst way imaginable: he didn't believe in us, he didn't believe in himself and he didn't care about me. Isn't that some shit? I haven't written anything about this let down because I'd rather not quilt together all the mistakes I've made and all the heartbreak he brought into my life. I used to think, when I was around him, that I have love, just show me, tell me where to put it. Now, all I think about is just putting it on a shelf until someone thinks they can reach it and dust it off. Ugh...
Anyway, to continue with why I think the universe is kicking me in the shins. So after that event at the concert I was invited, by my "single" friend (meaning she's alone like me, not that I have one friend) to go to the movies. I thought, well this should be a nice distraction, right?
Wrong.
I waited for her at dinner in a booth, because the hostess thought I was alone and sat me down in the far corner out of sight but near the bar (go figure). Anyway, so she shows up and slides all the way down the seat and I thought, well that's weird. And then she looked past my shoulder and I knew... I knew... that she invited a guy to our "singles" date. I wanted to cry. I was excited at the thought that I could get out of my house and hang out with a girlfriend for one night and not worry about boys. He had dinner with us and sat with us at the movie theater... 3rd wheel. I know it wasn't insensative of her but she announced at the dinner, "Oh yeah, and you remember blah-blah, suprise, we're dating!" At that point I didn't care that she was secretly dating, I played it off like I already knew to make it less comfortable for her (I know!), I was still melting away in my cold seat thinking of what has 3 wheels and makes me want to vomit: the entire situation! Either way, I had fun. I can't not have a good time watching Daniel Craig on the big screen.
So what's happening now? I still feel like crap but I'm doing my best to ignore this. I'm just waiting for something worse to happen like: bumping into that jerk with his new pregnant girlfriend or worse: bump into him and his being ready to commit a little of himself to me... I think I'd just curl up and die.

Patty's Birthday Gifts!

2008-11-14T15:29:00.004-06:00

It's my little sister's birthday today. I actually have time to post my weekend worth of knitting! A weekend, I should've spent studying! Ha!

Here's a card I made for her, just the envelope is designed using Elmer's glitter glue.

And here's the first scarf I made for her. I used Lion Brand Homespun in Amethyst (I think...). Really simple garter stitch on size 17 needles. She wanted something, "Hole-y", is what she said. So I'm assuming something made with enormous needles!

I'm modeling it here...

And this is the other scarf I whipped up in two hours. Simple Stockinette stitch on size 17 needles. I used Caron Sports yarn (the thick kind).

I hope she likes them!

The Secret Life of a Tattooed Damsel... in Distress....

2008-10-25T03:00:00.005-05:00

I will admit that I have not read, The Secret Life of Bees, and that I sincerely regret it. I did, however, see the movie. I figured, what the hell! It's Friday night, I don't have a boyfriend, why not indulge in some female empowerment. I loved the movie and I'm sure I'd love it more if I read the book but that's not even factoring into why I enjoyed this movie so much. There was nothing "Hollywood" about this movie, there was no glamorous opening or exit, nothing exploded, and nobody was mauled to death and ripped to bits and tiny pieces. This film, brought to me tonight, a glimmer of that wonderful thing I like to call and often try to reach (unsuccessfully)--- clarity. The women in this film ( and I'm including the young and talented Miss Fanning here too ) are so real. There isn't: CGI'ed cleavage, wrinkle smoothed out skin, silky straightened hair, gratuitous nudity, or smoking on or by any of these women. (How often do I get to say that in one sentence, about one movie?) Maybe I'm missing something from the book, there could be something there that makes these women even more amazing but for a film adaptation: it is so sincere.

As for the Damsel in Distress bit....

For some reason- as a sick joke played by whoever is governing fate, tonight (even after this movie), I walked out of the theatre and noticed the flat tire on the front, right hand side of the car. I began to recall when I saw my brother and father fix a flat on the same type of car and decided: I can fix this! I can do this! But upon looking for the tools in the car and looking through the directions in the manual breaking away from its spine, I called my sister. Why did I call her? I called her because my father was out of town, my older sister was with her boyfriend and the sister I called was closer in the neighborhood... with her boyfriend. The mortification of it all is still sinking in. All I could think, as I watched him change the tire with my sister helping him out was, "I could have done this!" All good feelings I absorbed from the film were all gone by the time my other sister arrived, with her boyfriend, who helped lift the old tire into the trunk. I appeared helpless but really I could have done that shit on my own, but I wanted encouragement and instead asked for help from my sister's boyfriend. Well, at least now, I know how to change a flat tire but what a night/way to figure it out!

Here's the nail in the coffin- when I got home there was a note from my father asking one of us to clean the house a little, make it presentable for my mom and sister who will be visiting tomorrow.

How perfect. Awesome. Just fabulous...

I vacuumed and mopped/waxed the floors, all the while, doing my best not to recall how real that movie made me feel, and how it couldn't compare to how real it feels to be helpless, single, and one hell of house cleaner.

This is going to be fun too!

2008-08-22T13:08:00.002-05:00

I'm very late to this party but I cannot wait to get this book club started too! Hopefully they will continue the series next year!

Electronic Book Club!

2008-08-21T11:41:00.003-05:00

Okay!

So I've joined this book club and it's the first i've ever joined. I'm pretty excited about this because my book arrives in the mail tomorrow and I can't wait to get started on a project!

I also finally received my Ravelry invite and I've started to keep up with that.

A few more things I LOVE:

2008-08-18T13:50:00.009-05:00

http://www.emersoncentral.com/selfreliance.htm

http://little-people.blogspot.com/

This is one of the COOLEST sites I have ever been to!

http://www.ventureindustries.org/

Another website that I am totally in love with!

Publick Nuisance
The secret files of the Ventureverse

http://jacksonpublick.livejournal.com/

http://www.craftzine.com/

http://pimpstitch.typepad.com/blog/

http://blog.betzwhite.com/2008/08/sketchy-maclaptop.html

Okay... I think I'm done for now!

I Found My Camera!

2008-08-16T12:38:00.014-05:00

So! I found my camera and here are the pics I promised:

This pic here is of a project I started. Here are a few hearts:

and the gauntlets I finished:

And here is the baby blanket I finally finished! You can see where I ran out of yarn. :P

And the scarf that took too long to make!

It's been a long time since I rock and rolled

2008-08-04T14:46:00.003-05:00

So I have misplaced my camera. Grr.

However, since I last posted I have finished knitting alot of stuff. Hooray!

I finally finished a blue and pink scarf I had been knitting for about 4 months. A birthday gift for my sister who's birthday is in October.

I made a pair of fingerless gauntlets with mismatched stripes. I had some extra yarn lying around and thought the color combo would compliment one another. I really need a color wheel!

I'm about to make a pencil case for myself, still working on the design though ( kind of a knit as I go project).
I also want to make a matching pair of fingerless gloves (gauntlets, whatever) for the blue scarf I finished and a matching hat for the other gauntlets I made. Although I have been leaning toward making a cute headband/ear warmer for the made gauntlets.

As soon as I find my camera I swear I will put pictures up of these finished projects.

Later!

I'm back

2008-07-18T10:14:00.003-05:00

I'd like to say that I've been "sooo busy I haven't had time for anything except to eat, breath and sleep," but I'd be lying if I said that. I've been starting knitting projects and then starting more at the same time. However, I have finished the "main" project which was to knit a baby shower gift. ( I will post pictures today or tomorrow.) I decided on a baby blanket. I finished it in one day while watching The Venture Bros. I am proud of it. I had to improvise with it though- I ran out of pink yarn so a corner of it is a darker pink. So, I may have to sew in a patch in the darker corner. I was think a quilt-like cupcake patch. I don't know the baby's name so I can't embroider it on there either. I think I may also have to line the blanket. The yarn sheds a bit and I've heard that baby's skin is really sensitive. So technically I'm not done with it but the knit part of the blanket is done. Truly exciting!

I've already started to think about X-Mas gifts and I've decided that I am going to try to knit a very very very easy sweater. Not sure if it will be for myself or for my mom. I don't know, it's still only a pattern I printed out yesterday while I was in the , "I can totally make this," mode. SO I have about 10 new patterns and a room to clean out so that I can find all the yarn I've accumulated over the past 6 years.

I'll put pictures up eventually of my yarn stash, my finished baby knitting projects and tentative things that I will make in the near future.

Knitting Baby stuff...

2008-06-06T12:54:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine is pregnant and she's having a girl! I finally get to use all of the pink yarn I have purchased within the last 6 years to put together something girly. I went through a pink yarn phase when I worked for Hobby Lobby.

So, pictures will be up soon. I just finished the cutest freakin' pair of baby booties I have ever made and I'm starting to work on a few hats, more booties, possibly a blanket and maybe a little set- jacket, hat, booties.

We'll see.

Top 5...

2008-05-31T11:10:00.012-05:00

I recently watched High Fidelity with the beautiful and talented John Cusack and it got me thinking: What are my top 5 ______ ?

What are my:

Top 5 breakup songs:

tentative to change with next breakup...

1. Miss Missery, Elliot Smith
2. The Scientist, Coldplay
3. A Pair of Brown Eyes, The Pogues
4. Wake Up Exausted, Tegan and Sarah
5. I Never, Rilo Kiley

Top 5 pet peeves:

1. The word "like" being thrown around like oxygen
2. popcorn bags in movie theatres, like my sister says: like wrapping a gift in the auditorium.
3. Robert Rodriguez--- asshole in a cowboy hat... that's all he is.
4. people who don't get up for old people on the bus
5. pregnant ladies/moms who think the can push me around.

Top 5 reasons not to get back into a relationship:

1. Freedom
2. All-you-can-eat-without-shame
3. Reading time
4. Knitting time
5. Time

Top 5 reasons why I should get back in the game:

1. I like a good challenge
2. I miss the chase
3. Doing cultural things with someone else is always worthwhile
4. Inspiration
5. Holding hands- yeah I'm a sucker for that...

Top 5 songs that reignite my belief in the human race

1. Respect, Aretha Franklin
2. Blue Day, The Heartless Bastards
3. Supernaturally, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
4. Across the Universe, Rufus Wainwright version
5. Hey Jude, The Beatles ( I know, this is cheating...)

Top 5 songs that irritate me because they are stuck in my head.

1. I just can't get you out of my head, Kiley Minogue
2. Hey Ya, Outkast
3. Mister Sandman, The Chordettes/Four Aces
4. Just You, Just Me, Edward Norton (Everyone Says I Love You)
5. Australia, The Shins

Top 5 songs that remind me of my family

1. Time Warp, Rocky Horror Picture Show
2. Together Again, The Muppets
3. Ventura Highway, America
4. All You Need is Love, The Beatles
5. Dance to the Music, Sly and the Family Stone

I can go on with these lists because that's what I do. I make lists. My sister was taking a class and her professor asked the class: "what is one thing you always seem to be doing? For instance I seem to always be winding up cords." She told me that the one thing she always felt that she was doing was waiting.

Me- I make lists. I don't know why. It just seems like an act of accomplishment: I made a list of the things I want to do today and here it is in it's finished glory. A beacon of instant gratification. But then I'll do the first thing on the list and stray to start another list withing that first item or find an old list that looks far more interesting. Or even better: make me wonder, "what the hell was I thinking when I wrote this?"

Top 5 knitting projects:

1. make a sweater
2. master the technique of double pointed needles to make mittens
3. make a blanket, so by the time I'm done my mother will be really old and it will come in handy
4. knit a pair of socks
5. pull a pattern from vogue knitting and actually start and finish the thing

Top 5 travel destinations:

1. Spain
2. Mexico (not "happy-drunk-time" mexico, real mexico)
3. Ireland
4. Alaska
5. Paris

Top 5 songs that make me happy:

1. Feeling Good, by Nina Simone
2. For Once in My Life, by Stevie Wonder
3. Get Up Offa That Thing, by James Brown
4. Boogie, by T. Rex
5. Rebel, Rebel by David Bowie

Top 5 songs that won't help me get over you:

1. I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You, by Colin Hay
2. Don't Explain, by Billie Holliday
3. Between the Bars, by Elliot Smith
4. Come Pick Me Up, by Ryan Adams
5. Long Ride Home, by Patty Griffin

New York, New York, New York

2008-05-28T17:17:00.007-05:00

Where do I even begin?

First of all, I don't know how people who live in New York and move to other cities can cope with the lack of tall buildings, heavy pedestrian traffic and dangerous drivers who don't care for crosswalks or red lights. To my surprise there wasn't a whole bunch of construction going on where cheesy construction workers could whistle at me and my sister.

Then again, most of my expectations were set against The Muppets Take Manhattan movie.

So my initial reaction: oh-my-goodness-where-did-all-of-these-cars-come-from?

Of course those weren't my only reactions. There was the smell, of course.

Anyway, the weather was remarkably beautiful. The first touristy stop was the New York Public Library. Of course we arrived about 8 minutes late so I couldn't go in, but I took some nice pictures.

We visited times square during the day- really not the same as seeing it at night. There were the lovely subway rides that I actually miss.

What really captured my heart were the limitless possibilities that restaurant and shop owners did to their little hole-in-the-wall shops. I would love to have a chance at having a cute little shop or cafe- but aside from the money I don't think I could deal with all the pressure. Anyway, I really loved the match box presentations of stores.

However, what was interesting for me was the fact that I didn't see a single yarn shop. Also- my own fault, because i wasn't intentionally looking for one. I wanted to stumble onto a cute little yarn store.

I can see where people can "fall in love", like in the movies, in Manhattan or even more so in Central Park. My big NYC fall-in-love-like-in-the-movies-moment would have to happen in Grand Central Station. The fact that hopping onto a subway in any direction and having someone chase after you ( if they do, they usually do in the movies ) is pretty romantic. I don't know--- my romantic sensibilities are a little strange. It might also be because I was missing someone back home and kept imagining what we would do when we got to NYC together. Like I said, I'm strange.

The horse drawn carriage ride through Central Park was a whole bunch of fun! I was in lovely company and the weather on Memorial Day was perfect.

Another "movie" moment was: Fleet Week.

I have no idea what that "officially" means but there were a bunch of sailors walking around and I felt like I should be in a 1940s movie where guys called girls dames and girls played hard to get- the real way.

This may have to be a two-part blog because I am having a hard time remembering everything that we did!

Things that make me happy...

2008-05-20T12:34:00.005-05:00

I was snoopin' around on my friends blog and decided to make a blog dedicated to a few things that make me giddy.

Cupcakes are so wonderful.
They are bite size, fit in your hand... happiness.

Of course: Knitting--- there is no greater felicity in the world.

Cloud formations. A pic I took while waiting for the bus.

Typewriters, too:

This is me.

2008-05-15T17:01:00.015-05:00

I like textile art. Although, I'm not super-duper huge on going into the detailed composition of fabric I do appreciate a person who uses a color wheel.

I also enjoy taking pictures- of nature. I think cloud formations are fascinating and enduring, in my photographs at least andusually in
my memory.

It seems almost impossible to duplicate nature-

but I try at least through words and texture.

Now I'm hoping to figure out my knitting and other sources to realease my creativity.

This is my Sammich.

This is my tattoo, part of it.

A Pattern I Tweaked...

2008-05-15T14:04:00.013-05:00

Here's a pattern I found online and tweaked--- entirely.

Knit Handle Purse

Materials:

10 ½ size needles (straight or circular)
Thick/chunky yarn
Tapestry needle

Directions:

Cast on 41 stitches

Row 1: * knit 1, purl 1 { repeat * }

Row 2: * knit 1, purl 1 { repeat * }

Continue Row 1: Four more times = 6 rows

Make handle:

Row 7:

-Seed stitch 12 stitches
-Bind off center 17 stitches
-Seeds stitch remaining 12 stitches

Row 8:

-Seed stitch 12 stitches
-Turn work
-Cast on 17 stitches
-Turn work, again
-Seed stitch remaining 12 stitches

Row 9: Seed stitch entire row

Row 10: Repeat row 9

Row 11: knit

Row 12: purl

Row 13- ?: continue stockinet stitch

Next handle/ Finishing: Reverse from row 10-1 (row 1 is the bind off row).

Progress:

*** I FINISHED IT ***

Hearts and Yarn,
Becky

Summer (knit) lovin'

2008-05-13T15:42:00.001-05:00

I finally finished a scarf that I had put down in December. I know! With school being a priority, I would pick up the scarf and work a few rows before going back to the books. With school over- for the summer- I have time to finish a few projects I started and begin some fun projects!

ALSO:

I searched around, online, for some patterns for a knit purse and I believe my new projects are going to be the following (keep in in mind, these are pictures from websites and not my finished projects) :

I will have side by side pictures of my progress and of course of the finished products!

Hearts and Yarn!

Becky