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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Doggie Holiday Fun.

I feel the need to share a bit of my holiday experience as well here... now that I have some of this crazy holiday spirit.. 

Well on Christmas Eve I go to what I affectionately refer to as my third family.  My roomie's family always invites me over for dinner Christmas Eve... they have done this since before I actually lived with her.  I will have to say probably about seven or eight years now. 

They have dogs... I won't say how many but they have dogs.  Boomer (named such because he booms around the house) and Tucker like to help with opening presents.




Going at one but it was the second one that Tucker really got into.




Look at him pull.



But Boomer had to come back and help him out.




They are great dogs and fun to watch on the holiday.

Monday, December 27, 2010

It is longer on the inside...

So I thought I would show off the loverly present I gave my roomie.  It was a lot more hand sewing than I prefer but that is life.  I think it turned out pretty cool and she is wearing it. 




Now here are the details of it... the full scarf.



and in this one you can see I actually sewn letters for the little notice.



I attempted to do the same for the Police Box at the top but I screwed that up so I sewn on the black peice and did puff paint, because I would have killed something otherwise.  Hope you all enjoyed this little show and tell more stuff to come.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Restoring the Holiday Spirit

I got the Christmas Spirit this week.  So feeling like I might have sucked it out of my roomie because of my lack of one up until Monday previous I decided to put up the scraggly fake tree I own and put all the presents we have underneath it...






There is every gift that is wrapped and a few that she had gotten from other people but that looked really cool in their packaging.




I know kind of pathetic but it is cool.  Next to it is the stockings for my roomie and an ex-roomie who still lives in town.



What can I say I like giving gifts.  It makes me happy to give people wrapped gifts and watch their faces light up when you give it to them completely unexpectedly... a little surprise in brightly colored paper.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Coming back to create

Okay I know I haven't posted in a while, but I am back now and working on things.  Why you might ask?  Well because it helps keep me happy.

Those of you who know me know I fight depression every day.  Some days it is a struggle to get out of bed, other days it is not but I always seem to have this shadow hanging over me.  One of the things that helps me is creating things.  Weather it is in writing, drawing, weaving, knitting, or painting there is a joy for me to do those things.  So for my artistic endeavors I have come up with a plan, a List of Five.  I did this with the generalities of my life over on my personal digging through the dredges of my soul blog.  This List of Five is specific to my artistic/creative endeavors. 

1. Knit one toy a month ~ I love knitted toys and feel they are highly underrated for giving joy. 

2. Write for at least fifteen minutes a day on some sort of story ~ this does not include blog or journaling posts. 

3. Take more pictures ~ go for walks and bring the camera, do a deliberate walk downtown. 

4. Pull out and 'finish' one un-finished project a month ~ I hate finishing in my fiber projects, which is the reason I like knitting in the round, not as much finishing. 

5. Draw something of The Moosehold Chronicles each month ~ I have been wanting to work on this for a while but am savvy enough to know the way of the book now to e-book reader.  So, I will work on both ways. 

But I suppose you want to see some pictures too...




Yep I finished it... a little bit ago but I finished it.  I gave myself tennis shoulder which was aggravated by my job but I finished it.  I will in the next couple of weeks have photos of the other things I have been working on (including a little hand sewn project for the roomie) but they are gifts and well I don't want people to see them yet. 

So the HAPPY THING for the day... oh I should explain the HAPPY THING. 

HT is a promise I have made to the people around me to find one happy thing about the day.  Hey I am a depressive sometimes that happy thing is kinda hard.  So... here I go. 

The HAPPY THING for today (well actually it is yesterday), Chavi curled in my lap for about 45 minuets.  (Chavi is the wiggly one so that is unusual.)

Friday, November 12, 2010

Ferrety Friday: Observation Sleep

Chavi: So 'lexi?

Lexi: Yeah?

Chavi: Do you ever feel like you are being watched?

Lexi: <in an exasperated tone> We're ferrets Chavi... mom is always watching us.

Chavi: <with enthusiasm> I know... remember the owl wings she put on us? <tone gets more and more excited as she talks> And the pictures and the swooping in...<she starts to hyperventilate>

Lexi: <Shouting> CHAVI... calm down.  <tone back to normal> I remember... I live here too.  <shutters and says softly> Chicken feet.

Chavi: <still intense but calmer than before> She did it again... took pictures of us.. this time without us knowing.





Chavi: See... see while we were sleeping.  She took pictures of us.

Lexi: You went into the dresser again.

Chavi: Hey it is comfortable... <indignant tone> what about you?




Chavi: <taunts> you fell asleep in her work shirt.

Lexi: I like the smell of bread.




Chavi: She even got a fuller one.  She pushed back the collar and you just kept sleeping.

Lexi: As you said... I was comfortable.





*Lexi and Chavi in two of their favorite sleeping spots... I get them a lot that way... just thought I would share.*

Friday, November 5, 2010

Ferret Frenzied Friday

Hello, I know we missed last week... very very busy avoiding mom.  Yeah avoiding mom.  She had this crazy idea to make us into owls... I know nuts.  I am a ferret.  A Fer/ret... ferret, a slinky in fur not a feathered flying freak.  And now... now she is taking pictures of us with the eeevil yarn monster to show something like gifeeindoor pride... what is that?



*rolls eyes* why me... why us... help?  Next thing you know she will be making us sweaters or something.

~this part of the post was written by 'Lexi who has now been shoved aside for Chavi's rants

Well at least 'Lexi didnot have to endure the shame of wings... I know she claims something about chicken feet but there is no photographic proof.  I think it is all a hoax... *huffs* Well I did have to endure the shame of wings...



Look at that... Blech.  Sweater would be a welcome change.  Maybe a dinosaur next year.  But really an owl... mom.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Creative Plate

Okay… this is what the loving little ferret of Chavi contributed to…



I know I know… she was just defending me… so she says.

I accomplished a lot this last week though.  I have five of the six slippers felted and needle felted (pictures will go up on Sunday).  I have been working on my Doctor Gryffindor scarf I am at 586 rows which means by Saturday night I need to be at 701.  So in five days I have 115 rows to do.  I plucked a little more at the Gypsy Shawl/Scarf.  I am almost to the point of starting to narrow.  The girls costumes are done and I did get a picture (yes they would not hold still for all the pictures so I got one… further explanation by both girls on their Friday post).

But I have a week ahead of me… I did a fair amount today so that was good, laundry got done.
Tomorrow I am going to go grocery shopping and plan out the menu for Tea and Treats before going to my Mary Kay meeting.   Wednesday is clean the kitchen before knitting group.  Thursday is start on the living room and dye up the yarn I have wanted to dye for two weeks.  *rolls eyes at self* Friday is clean up living room… hoping to finish it that day.  Saturday finish up knitting projects for the month.  Finally Sunday post knitting projects and plan out next month’s Knitting Nano (further explination to come on the first of November… mwhahahahahahaha!) and work on food and decoration for the Tea and Treats on Monday.

So individual break down of what I am hoping to accomplish this week:

1.  Finish last slipper needle felting.

2.  Finish Gypsy Scarf

3. Get Doctor Gryffindor Scarf to 701 rows

4. Post pictures of all knitting projects

5. Continue Ferret Fridays

6. Plan out next month’s projects

I think that is a full creative plate.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Ferret Fridays: Now we introduce Chavi...

Well mom is almost done with the Halloween costumes apparently we are going to have to wear.  PTHTHTHTHTHT to that… I will never ever, EVER, wear a costume for anyone.  Not even mom. 

Hi I am Chavi… it means pretty girl.  My sister Alexia is over eating and I thought this would be a great opportunity to scamper on over here and tell you all what you need to encourage from mommy Deii, (it is pronounced like the letter okay… D.)  We need blankies… wonderful warm things to wrap up in and fuzzy jingly things to kill.  I want to kill that evil pink google.



It must die a horrible death…



in a dark place….



where no one will hear it scream. 







Ahem… sorry, but you must understand it is my nemesis.  Really it is, it puts to shame the color pink.

I know what you are thinking I am the one who saved mom from the evil yarn… I do it every time she leaves it where it might strangle her but it is necessary to get her to make what we need. 

So encourage her to make hammocks blankets beds and toys… not costumes and scarves.  Toys are always good… I will find you Leonardo the Turtle and I will put you with the google.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Busy week.... and another to come.

Yeah… I have been knitting… a lot. *grins*  I have all my slippers knitted and tomorrow I am sewing them up so that I can felt them and then start needle felting on Wednesday. 






Yeah there are three pairs there.  Cool isn’t it.

Also I took a wonderful class on Saturday for this very flowing and bohemian scarf.  The designer of it calls it a Gypsy Scarf and I like that.

This is the beginning….




….and the beads to go with it, hematite and multicolored blue seed beads.  It is so great and I think I am going to make a couple of these for presents. 





I am also hopefully on Wednesday or Thursday be able to Kool Aide dye some yarn.  I have a could idea for a story to go with it.



Also just need to finish up the girls costumes…




They are going to look great.

I did pretty good on my goals for last week… I shifted the one of the slippers and just am going for it lock stock and barrel.  The sad part is the class I was going to have tonight (Monday… I a still on Monday time) was cancelled and now I am going to shift what knitting I am working on because of it.  Less stress but a shift in plans. 

The other thing that I have been rolling around in my head is NANO, National Novel Writing Month.  It is next month and I am trying to decide if I want to participate and how much I want to participate.  I have a couple of ideas but I don’t know how hard and heavy I want to pitch it.  I am enjoying my knitting and relaxing with my blogging and journaling.  I might take a more free flowing approach to it this year but the theme of my writing I am not sure of yet.  I was thinking actually of doing some short stories either revolving around recipes or knitting experiences.  Just some thoughts I guess. 

Anyway I my accountability for this week:

1. Felt and needle felt the slippers
2.  Dye the yarn
3.  Get 50% done on the Gypsy shawl
4.  Get new yarn attached to the Dr. Gryffindor Scarf
5.  Finish girls costumes
6.  Keep up on the Ferrety Friday posts and toss around ideas for a third weekly post

I think that is a fair assessment of what I can accomplish. 

Friday, October 15, 2010

Ferret Firdays: A plea...

Hello, my name is ‘lexi, officially my full name is Alexia, but I prefer ‘lexi.  I think it is a handsomer name.  My sister Chavi is actually quite at the moment, but that is only because she is sleeping.

I just thought I would stop by and defend my sister, for once.  You see she decided that mom needed to not be working on the project she was working on and ran and hid the yarn attached.  The unfortunate consequence of this was that she did not hide the entire project.  It was still on the bed and the yarn was in the closet.  Mom found the yarn easily enough but the process created what mom calls a yarn monster. 

Now this did create the desired effect of having mom not work on that project but not on the project we want her to be working on.  We want her to be working on the hammocks or the wings or even maybe a bed to sleep in but now she is working on slippers. 

So I come here to implore you her readers to let her know that a hammock is a good thing to work on.  It will bring joy to the little fuzzies that we are and help us bring joy to her, because that is our job to bring joy to our mom. 

Thank you very much.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

grrr.... yarn.

I had a grrrr sort of day on Sunday.  It was just one of those days.  Just things that did not go right but it wasn't horrible either. 

My Doctor Gryffindor scarf is coming along.  I am almost 25% done.  I am at 283 rows.  However I had to stop because my lovely little furbutts found it while I was out of the room and, well, they ran and I didn't fix it right away and this happened. 







I also knitted a little bit more and created a bigger mess.  So I stopped before I would rip it all out and toss it to the winds.  I will in the next day or so pick it back up and remove the yarn monster from it and start knitting again.  I will also find a night when I just want to relax and disentangle yarn to deal with the remainder that I have there.  But that is for when I am at about 55%.

The other thing that made me go grrr was this...






Yes ladies and gentlemen that is Reason #17 for leaving work before the manager arrives in the morning:  Wardrobe Malfunction.  aka I ripped the backside of my pants out to the front.  I finished the bake wearing an apron the other way around my body.  And the thing is... I was wearing a thong. 

On a good note I am working on slippers...







They are going to be felted and needle felting will be added.  I will finish knitting this pair before I go to bed then I will cast on the next pair.  I hope to have all three pairs knitted by Friday.  *grins*

Anyway....  I hope to try and build my happy the next week again.  I don't know quite where it went.  Right now the happy is in my knitting and my ferrets, even though they made a yarn monster.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Doctor Gryffindor grows....

Almost two hundred rows. 







Yep, defiantly further on it that need be. 

Other Accountability News...

Had a rough week last week so I did not put any real accountability up... did a little bit over the weekend, got a touch over half of what I wanted done. 

This weeks goals...

1. Over 250 rows done on my Dr Gryffindor scarf (shown above)

2. Finish the experimental slipper set to see if it will work for the others

3. Knit up the girls costumes

4. Finish the posts for the roleplay

I know I can complete all of these things.  Why?  Because I am beautiful and strong and creative.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

The Gryffindor Doctor continues....

It was a busy good day. Of my list I got three and probably about three quarters done.

I sorted my laundry for laundry day on Monday and picked up in the room followed by cleaning the girls cage and them. 

The neatest thing about the picking up of stuff around the room is that I actually cleared off my knitting chair. 






Having ferrets means I have to keep certain things off of the floor and well the chair is a nice big place to stick stuff.  It also does not help that I don't really have a place to put my computer.  I need one of those little rolling computer stands that I can sit next to this seat and work from.



Doesn't that look more comfy. 

The other big thing I did was organize my knitting trunk, yes I have a knitting trunk.  Where projects that I am working on but don't really want to have out are stored.



There it is, all closed up so the girls don't get in it.






And there it is as a catch all like the chair.... I do that a lot unfortunately, make things catch alls. 





And there it is all organized... really it is trust me on this.  Each project has it's own bag and if I am not working on it... it does not go in the trunk.

So now I am off to sleep... I have things to do tomorrow and then I will be able to sit and knit... and knit and knit.... weeeeeee!!  I think getting up and doing dishes first thing will be the best then moving on to running around.  I need to go to Threadbender.  Then may be I can do the hand wash before sitting down and sorting through some boxes while watching the last Warehouse 13 episode and the most recent Eureka episode I missed.  I might slip in there going to Barnes and Noble... but I will see.

Darkness in the soul is not fun...

Well, I am sorry folks, I had a rough week and let the deep darkened depression take over my brain and body.

But I am better right now and hopefully will have a full update on what is going on in my life on Monday.  Right now I am going to show you what my reward is for completing  stuff this weekend....






What you see is the Dr. Who Gryffindor scarf, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows audio book and my computer.  For each task I finish I will be allowed to sit and listen to part of or one full CD and knit. 

What are the things on my task list?

1. Pick up bedroom and sort laundry for Monday.

2. Clean girls cage and bath girls

3. Finish dishes

4.  Sort through the equivilant of three boxes from the basement

5. Do hand wash clothing

6. Pick up Yarn for a project for the girls (no I am not spoiling the surprise yet)

7. Post for a roleplay I am in (both posts)

8. Go and finish paying for class at Threadbender

Now all of these are actually to be done over the course of two days.... so we will see what gets done. 

I however do believe that the reward of knitting and listening to Harry Potter is a good reward.  Yep I do. :)

Friday, September 24, 2010

Rules to live by...

A couple of friends of mine had to make the difficult decision about their cat today and it brought to my mind the Pet Ten Commandments that I saw recently.  (believe it or not I have never seen these before this month.)

So I share with you the rules all pet owned should live by.  Along with a few lovely little pictures of my precisions girls.

Pet Ten Commandments

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years.  Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me. Don't be frustrated and impatient.

3. Place your trust in me.  It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment.  You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.




5. Talk to me.  Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand the tone of your voice when speaking to me.

6.. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet I choose not to bite you.




8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me.  Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old and weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old  You too, will grow old and need love, care, comfort and attention.




10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please.  Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone.  Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.






modified from the original poem by Stan Rawlinson Doglistener.co.uk

Normally I would post the Rainbow Bridge poem but this felt better today and thought it would be more appreciated.  Hug your fuzzy/feathered/scaled kids because they need love too.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

It has started....

Well the pattern for When Sweaters Rebel/Dr Who Goes Gryffindor scarf, has decided to be difficult.  I will have to work on it and figure out how to make it actually show the whole chart... however I will be showing you how far I am currently.


Now I have started it and I like the front.



I am just not sure if I like the back enough not o double the width and fold it over and seam it.




The thing is I know that is the way garter stitch works but I am not 100% sure I like the way it looks.  There are drawbacks to folding it.  It would add to the 'weight' of it, in other words it would be very very warm.   So I am going to go at it for a few more blocks of color, probably through the next little switching of two rows two rows two rows between red and gray.  I should be able to figure out if I like the look and weight of it then.



There we go that is how far I am on the scarf even.... Yea!  So off I go to play with string and do some cleaning.  Weeeee!!!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Monday? Accontablity

I know Monday Accountability is a little late this week.  But as I said before I was knitting up a storm and relaxing with life on Sunday so that pushed back my Pirate post and that therefore pushed back my Monday post… and here we are in Tuesday so Monday Accountability. 

Finished:

*Leonard the Gargoyle.  He looks great.

*Pretty Pretty Hat

*Started Hammock for the girls’ cage

*Did a couple of sketches for the next set of mugs

I will say this I did not get the mugs ordered.  I like to do that a week in advance, because I like to pay for it. 

Now other things that happened this week:  I had a tire go flat and had to have a wrecker come out and change it for me because the bolts were so rusty.  I looked at the other tire in the front and it needed to be changed as well.  So on Saturday morning I went and got two new tires.  When all was said and done, over two hundred dollars and I still need to get an alignment done. 

So this is how far I am on the Hammock




...and this is a pretty little watercolor to add to the sketch list.




I will admit I also went to a sci-fi film festival all day Saturday and knitted a Dust Bunny Buddy Nugget and proposed a ‘homework’ assignment in the HPKCHC (Harry Potter Knitting & Crocheting House Cup) group I am in.  Good news was it got accepted.  I will be working on that too.  Now all I have to do is figure out a measuring bar in the colors I am doing.  I might temporarily use the one as it is colored now, but we will see.

So what am I planning this week:

*three more watercolor sketches for the mugs

*finish hammock (including lining and photographing)

*start my When Sweaters Rebel or Dr. Who Goes Gryffindor Scarf

*actually scan the sketches and put them up on DA

*put up the two amigurumi critters I have done up on DA

*Copy what I have done for Moosehold for writers group on Friday

A few more things than normal but I think I can accomplish them this week.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Weekend Wrap Up... with a little bit of Pirate

Well I had wanted to post this on Sunday (since that was talk like a pirate day) but I did not have two of the things done that I am picturing here.  I was really close on the bunny but I was tired… so here is my pirated post…

Avast ye matties.  Let us grab a pint (yes they come in those) and drink to the good health and avoidance of Davey Jones Locker.  Arrrrr.

(yes it is talk like a pirate day)

I am on a quest to gain my beetle turned buttons back from an errant dust bunny.  So I pulled out my swords (needles) and gathered up my rope (yarn) and stared my knot works (knitting) in the rigging (on my bed).  I am bribing the little fellow with a Dust Bunny Buddy.  I hope only that the little scallywag will not bring about the Dust Bunny Apocalypse. 




Ahoy there Bunny, I have finished your friend even gave him two of the loverly beetle buttons, to appease you. Now back to my other buttons...

*stares in shock as the little cup that was holding the other beetles turned buttons is now empty and a trail of dust leads under the bed.  Titters of laughter could be heard along with tiny squeeks of ‘more friends, more.’*

Drat… Pirates!

Now back to regular speak.

The other thing I have been working on is the When Sweaters Rebel or Dr. Who turns Gryffindor Scarf.  I have officially bought all the supplies and reworked the pattern  Dr. Who Scarf Season 18 and I think the colors are great.




I picked up ‘I Love This Yarn’ because it is so soft.  I intend to make it about ten inches wide and that should defiantly be wide enough for me.  I feel so enthused about doing it.

There will defiantly be pictures and fun things of that nature.  Anyway I will have Monday Accountablity up tomorrow.  I have a few other things to do tonight.

Friday, September 17, 2010

It is Freely Friday Time:

Well now here it is Friday… I had hoped to get my first Wicked Delights Wednesday out this week but alas, real life kept me busy.  So I am now here today, finally posting something of interest. 








This is Leonard.  Fully completed and showing his strength as a guardian by protecting my coffee.  He is the first amagarumi piece I have done.  Yes he is knitted.  I don’t actually know how to crochet. 

The other piece I finished is a hat.




Yep that is me wearing it.  Fun easy piece.  Both of those were made for a Ravelry group I am in. 

Well you all know how I am a Harry Potter fan… well I joined a House Cup Challenge group and am having fun with it.  Keeps me working on different things. 

I am also working on a third project inspired by one of their classes. 




That is how far I am in two and a half days, and it will be, once it is finished, a hammock for the girls.  They so need new ones.  I am thinking also maybe knitting and felting a bed to go in there too.  I will see.




Yeah I am Weavetting it with my ‘junk’ yearn.  I am trying to decide if I am going to add a knitted edge to it or not.  I do know I am going to need to line it.  Just a little too much of a chance for little claws to get caught and snagged on the seaming, even though I am weaving the edges together as to sewing them.

I also have been doing some sketching and relaxing with that.  I have been working a touch on the designs I was thinking for mugs.




I know a photo, more because I didn’t feel like going and scanning on the other computer.  This was fast and easy.  Yes to all you Totoro fans I know what I did wrong on the color of the little guy, but in my defense I was doing this at a Laundromat and did not have a reference picture.

Anyway... off to do more playing with 'string' and working and cleaning and having fun with friends.  Enjoy the day.