Saturday, September 30, 2006

Thanks Whippy!



Whippy, Thank YOU! I love everything! I have never had pretty stitch markers before -- just dumb plastic one -- I love these! Now I have to find a new project to start so I can use them!! And the pretty box fits right in my accessory pouch, so I will always have them with me! I love everything! Thank you, thank you!

Friday, September 29, 2006

Look what I found!



This little beauty just showed up in my garden! It snuck up on me - I love the color!! Most of my sunflowers are yellow so I am really thrilled with this burgandy beauty! Enjoy and have a great weekend!

the market bag is done!!

The market bag is done! I am actually going to use it for a grocery bag, so i didn't do the single crochet edging and there are definately some small mistakes that i did not bother to rip out and re-do. This bag, which should have been so easy, was really a massive pain in the ass! The pattern was poorly written, I had to adapt it to be knit in the round, and then the pattern required alot of attention. I felt a little better when Jules said she found it a nightmare too, then a lot better when I went into my LYS and found three other ladies all much more experienced knitters then I am, all had started the pattern, non had finished and all had their own nightmares to recount with the bag. I am now determined to write a new market bag pattern that makes sense and it easier! I will keep you updated. Until then, at least for all my effort a couple of trees will be saved!

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Getting there


Well, the green bag is getting close to being done. I am making the XL version since I don't want to have any left over yarn. Since I will be using this as a grocery bag - I don't think it is such a big deal - it will just hold more! I am hoping in the next day or so to get it done -- get it off the sidebar! And there is so little finishing to do!!

Saturday, September 23, 2006

updating the thrown gauntlet . . .

Well, I did it -- kinda . . . Of course, there had to be a hick-up . . . So on Thursday morning I was adding the 5th of the 6 colors, when I realized that color 4 and 5 were identical!!! I called my LYS in a panic and as it turned out the yarn that was supposed to be color 5 was marked correctly in the package but not on the packing list. Since my sweetie rolled all the yarn for me and didn't know what he was looking at, he couldn't alert me to the problem. Since I was easily on track to be done by Saturday, we settled the bet early and I have the correct color of yarn coming in this week! Now I really want to get it DONE!! My husband is in the mountains with the camera this weekend, so as soon as he is back I will post the photos!! Now what to do with the yarn credits I have . . . somehow I am sure that it won't be a problem!! Although, right now, I am committed to not starting any new projects, till I am done with all the old ones that are started. I am just writing down my wish list, instead of starting everything. On that note, I am on to my market bag - that now seems to be easily knitting in pattern - maybe by the time the camera is back that will be done and I can post it too!
Have a good weekend!

Sunday, September 17, 2006

the gauntlet is thrown

So, I was doing so well finishing my UFO's. Here are Bill's knucks. He wore them and bragged about them this morning!! (We had to leave the house at 5:30 am - and it was only 44 degrees!!)

Then there is Dom's little sweater. I did block it, but I am still not too happy with where I had to change the stitches from knitting in the round to knitting and purling -- so I may block it again!

Finally there are all three pairs of knucks that I have made. I was getting all fancy and taking photos of them in the garden - I liked all the colors together. Sooo, when I go out there to actually take the pics - it is a huge wind storm. I am trying to keep the gloves from blowing off the plants, but keep them placed where they are still visible! Wow, I am a huge geek!!

Sooo, yesterday I am in my LYS and talking with the owner, showing here the beginnings of the blanket that I am making for my MIL -- the one that my husband wound all the yarn for. She asked me how long it would take for me to finish it - thinking it would be about a month. When I said a week or so, she threw down the gauntlet. If I can finish all the knitting on the blanket in a week, by next saturday, she will give me $100 in yarn!! What an awesome offer -- so of course I took her up on it! Now all my knitting time for the week will be devoted to the blanket, so I am sure to have it done! I am traveling this week and I don't care how awkward it is -- I will be working like a fiend on it!! Check back next saturday to see how I did - I won't be posting again till then, all my free time will be spend knitting!!

Wish me luck!! Have a great week!


Friday, September 15, 2006

So - the R2 sweater is finally done!!! Yeah!!! It did turn out a little bigger then I was hoping, so I may felt it one more time and see if I can get it to shrink a bit. It is super forward and funky, which I love! I did get some weird looks when I was in the bank this morning, although, I have had two of my knit girls ask for the pattern after finding out that I made it and it was not part of the fall goodies that are blasting into the store everyday, right now!

There are a couple of would-haves that I will mention, since I have handed the pattern out a few times. I think I spent just over 4 hours knitting the sweater and just over three hours sewing it together. If I had to do it again - I would not have made it in so many panels. I would have edited it down to two sleeve, two front panels and one back panel -- not sure why they did it as they did. Next I would have trusted my instincts and cut some rows off the long panels - they are 15 or 18 rows longer then the inside panels, which didn't make sense to me and still doesn't. I kinda like them long, but who knows, they may eventually get trimmed - the beauty of felting! Finally, I would have sewn the sweater together with the R2 yarn and then felted the whole thing together. Again, why they didn't have us do that I am not sure. I don't usually have the patience to knit the same thing twice, so i don't know that I will do this sweater again - but for future patterns out of the book - I will remember my own advice.

So, you gotta love my skills as a super-model -- hehehe.
I do really like the sweater, and it is actually quite warm, which sucks since today was only supposed to be in the 50's but typical denver, it is close to 80! So I am hiding in my air-conditioned store, pretending that it is cooler outside. I do feel very avant-guard cool in my sweater, tunic and skinny jeans -- man, I am such a huge geek!!

Have a good friday! There are two more almost done UFO's that I am trying to get off the side of my blog, especially since I started the blanket for my MIL (that my husband wound all the yarn for) yesterday. A long ramble later, that means that I will post again before the end of the weekend!

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

more progress

In one of my august posts, I said that I was going to try to make the last of the month a time to finish all the old projects so I could start some new fall ones. Well, with only 11 days left in the month with three of them traveling, that probably wasn't the most realistic of ideas. Then September came, I stayed on this finishing kick. It has been a ton of long work hours (and by that I mean my real job - not knitting work), but I am making progress! Here is Dom' s sweater -- it still has some weaving and blocking to be done to it, but soon it will be posted as a finished piece. And Bill's knucks, finally received some embroidery (I use the word embroidery very loosely) love, while I was getting a pedi yesterday! Soon I will be able to post all three of my finished knucks on the KAL blog - YEAH!! More progress coming soon. . . .

Monday, September 11, 2006

Bill's Tri

This weekend was the Fall Frenzi Triathalon (a word that I have tried to spell and am now resigned to the fact that I can't). It was held in Parker, Colorado on Sunday morning. This was Bill's big race for the season, since for the past two summers things have been too crazy for him to do much mountain bike racing. If I was a better photographer, there would be better photos. As it is, between the cameras limitations and mine - the photos are sketchy at best. There is a cute one of him getting his shoes on for the bike portion (He just loves it when I call him cute -- I do mean it in a rugged and manly way!). Look at the socks - Love It!!
The Bianchi is on the site, because Bill spotted it before the tri and it made his day. A single speed mountain bike named P.U.S.S. with a flask holder! Neither of us had ever seen a flask holder before. Maybe someday, Bill will have a bike with one too. We would prolly have to have it made, since I don't think that they are actually made.
Well, those are the photos for the weekend - hopefully, knitting progress soon - as soon as I make some! I did figure out how to get buttons onto my blog today!! That was very exciting! And I had a great class this morning. All the women that I taught to knit picked it up right away and were uber-pleased with themselves. I love that!! It was a good way to start the week!!





Posted by sunneshine

Saturday, September 09, 2006

my new pirate name



My pirate name is:


Iron Anne Rackham



A pirate's life isn't easy; it takes a tough person. That's okay with you, though, since you a tough person. You have the good fortune of having a good name, since Rackham (pronounced RACKem, not rack-ham) is one of the coolest sounding surnames for a pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Friday, September 08, 2006

Green Green Green Green Green

Apparently, green is the color of the week!! I have been working on green projects all this week -- not actually on purpose -- must some underlying freudian thing. There is the grandbaby's little sweater - the round body with the stitch markers marking where the sleeves go, and one little 3/4 sleeve. Then there is the HushHush from Knitty that I ordered the yarn for - got some cute skinny jeans, and now I just need to finish the tunic and finally there is the french market bag that Jules and I are doing. I have actually screwed up the pattern, so I have to frog about 4 rows and start the pattern again. That is what I get for deciding that I hate finishing work and so instead of knitting like the pattern said, I changed it to knit in the round and then didn't read the pattern carefully. Although, 4 rows isn't too much. I'll update later when it actually looks like something, right now it looks like a warped bikini top. It is rainy and cool here today - I am not much in a work mood, so I think I will get the essentials done and head back home to cook - steaks with spicy pears (pears stuffed with jalapenos and marinated in a honey lime sauce) for dinner - and knit!! There are some UFO's that have to get finished this weekend - I want them off my blog page -- r2 sweater anyone??

Have a good weekend!






Posted by sunneshine

Hello to Heather!!

This is Heather!! She is the new manager of sunneshine! Heather is going to allow me to have at least one day off a week! I love Heather! She is doing a great job!! Thanks Heather!




Posted by sunneshine

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Punk Rock Gift Exchange Questionaire

1) How long have you been spinning/Knitting/Crocheting?
I have knit since I was nine, 27 or so years -- on and off, crochet since I was 13, more off then on, and no spinning - not enough time now . . .

2) Do you consider yourself a beginner, novice, or experienced Yarn Artist?
Experienced Yarn Artist, now it is all about knowing how to do the technique correctly then push that knowlege into something new.

3) What type of fibers have you worked with?
Several novelty yarns, wool, alpaca, cotton, silk, rayon, bamboo, rag, paper, wire, thread - and several combinations of those too!

4) What types are you dying to try?
When we were in New Zealand, we bought these sweaters that were Possum and Merino wool, beautiful and so soft -- I want to try knitting with that, but can't find it here. I am also seeing some wicking yarn that I am just starting to see out - the yarn wicks moisture away from the skin -- I am really curious to try these yarns for socks and sweaters. It would be so nice to have some knitted goods that I can actually wear when I am being active. Other then that I really like natural fibers but I am not sure what I would be looking for, there are so many good choices out there!!

5) Are you allergic to anything, (Fibers, Food, Smells that make you want to puke, etc.)?
I am allergic to wheat - which is in everything, so I just try to be careful about how much of it I eat, and some wools made me ITCHITCHITCH!

6) Do you have any Disorders, ex: Diabetes?
None.

7) What is your Favorite Time/Style period, ex: Romatic, Grecian,Metal, Goth,etc?
It would be some combination of victorian and goth - I love the texture, the layers, the inticate patterns of the fabrics and lace and the decadence of the way that people dressed and put these things together. Also, these times there was so much ceremony surrounding clothing and what you wore and why you wore it. Very beautiful.

8) What fibers do you dislike?
I dislike novelty and man made fibers - acrylic, rayon, polys, I tend to stick with natural fibers, there are so many choices and they look better and wear better.

9) Name some of your favorite Artist, Movie wise, Television if you watch it ex: I heart Keanu, some things cant be helped, and Rachel loves Mike Ness !?
Ryan Adams and Pete Yorn make me melt, also Jason Leigh - and he is even tall!! That has always been one of my "things" about men that is for some reason important. Then there is the cute doctor from Greys Anatomy (Patrick Dempsey??) but he is probably not tall, though. Truely, though I wouldn't trade my hot husband for any of them.

10) Whos your favorite Character ex: Jack or Cpt Jack?
My favorite character is Earl from "My name is Earl" - I love how simple and funny he is and how the tides of the gods work for him, even accidently! I don't watch much TV or go to the movies, but for some reason, this show makes my week every week!

11) Do you prefer natural colored fibers, or handpainted/dyed fiber?
I love yarn and both natural colored fibers and handpainted/dyed fibers are both regulars in my knitting. It is just finding the right yarn for the right project.

12) What are you favorite colors?
Black and purple are my favorite colors.

13) What colors do you dislike?
Bright colors - my palate tends to be more muted, and no yellows.

14) What projects are you currently working on?
By the time my secret pally sees this it could be totatlly different, but here is the real and embarassingly long list:
knucks for my husband
black cashmere scarf
wavy lace shawl for my dad's girlfriend
alpaca blanket for MIL
raglan sweater for my grandson
punk stripe hat
r2 sweater
market bag
hush hush top for me!

15) Do you have a wishlist?
I don't have a wishlist - other then for more arms and hands - so I could get through my projects faster.

16) Do you have any other favorite hobbies?
I love to garden and don't mind tending the flowers, either, and I love cooking. Those two kinda go together. Is ebaying a hobby? Then there is cruiser bike riding, hiking, camping, running and pilates.

17) When your birthday?
July 31st

18) What is your favorite food, candy, scents that you love!! Etc.?
My favorite food has to be cake! Especially chocolate cake with white frosting, yum. Otherwise, my food tastes go through phases - right now it is asian grilling but I think as fall hits it may be moving to french provincial cuisine. The scents that I love the most are not too sweet; lily, rose, lillac, cloves, vanilla -- really anything that is not too sweet. My favorite candy involves chocolate - since it is always a decadent treat. I don't care for nuts (but am not allergic) so that is the biggest thing that I try to work around with my candy - kitkat, butterfinger, twix, pretty much all of them. I am allergic to wheat so I don't eat much cake or many cookies, but it is definately a guilty pleasure and I just have to be careful. For cookies, my favorites are Berger cookies found on the east coast only, but the magic of online ordering.

19) Are you pierced at all? Any tattoos? Can you/would you wear jewelry that isn̢۪t real?
My piercing are quite tame - just ears. I have several tattoos, again fairly tame as I have always had the theory that when I dress up, I don't want them to be seen. And I usually wear jewelry that is not real, accessories are meant to be fun, not break the bank.

20) What do you like Culturally, ex: Celtic, African, Devil Worshiping, Kidding!?
I think I tend towards native american more then any other culture. I was raised in a very catholic family, but later in my life when my parents split my dad converted to judism -- talk about guilt. Somehow, I haven't ended up with much allegience to either. When I was married the minister did a ceremony with a lot of celtic and native american rituals, it was beautiful. I tend to be very organic and into leaving the earth in a better position then I found it in. Keeping things natural, and organic , worshiping nature and the tides of the gods, of karma and the way that things are meant to be is really what I believe.

21) What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Don't laugh, while I do have one needle holder (that around our house has been nicknames "the quiver") most of my needles live in a galvanized pail, dps in a long skinny cardboard box, and a second pail holds my circulars in zip lock bags by size.

22) What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
First off, my computer does not play mp3's - which sucks and means that one day I need to update. I like all different kinds of music. Right now, it is boy pop punk that I listen to most - sum 41, the fray, blink 182, green day, 30 seconds to mars, the killers, panic at the disco, ect. There is also my singer songwriter side with ryan adams, pete yorn, kathleen edwards, steve earl and neil young. There is a little country - only old country willie nelson, don williams hank williams, bob wills, johnny cash, and such (even at the risk of being tossed out of this exchange - kidding), and all the good old 80's punk and new wave, then the silly feel good pop -- kelly clarkson, ect., and there is also my husband's band - lots of variety (I didn't even get to jazz, classical or so many other types of music!!)

23) What's your favorite season and why?
I love fall and winter, because I get to wear 17 layers (kidding - kinda). I do love the colder seasons, the holidays, the good vegetables to cook with, wearing lots of clothes, hiking in the snow, cuddling up with my husband, ect.

24) What season do you abhor?
I don't have a season that I abhor, I think my least favorite thing of the seasons is when spring doesn't come or it stays super hot into the end of October. I like to experience all of my seasons.

25) How about Sports, any that you just cant get enough of or do they make you throw up in your mouth just a little?
My secret sports weakness is Washington State University Football (we even have the flag hanging outside our house on game day -- geeky). I used to be a professional bike racer, so I do occasionally flip on the tour (de france) and see how the guys that I know are doing. Then there are the Mariners, Mubs and I keep up with them. Other then that I am not a big sports fan -- however Denver can be a pretty sports crazy town, and espcially the Broncos make me throw up in my mouth a little.

26) What is your family situation Do you live alone?
I live with my husband in a big house that is divided into apartments. We have a sort of pseudo family of our tenants, especially the man who has lived in the basement apartment for just shy of 40 years, but I swear that we are not the crazy landlords that are all in your shit. (We all have had one of those!) And I have a retail store with 8 employees who all end up being my kids too. (Again, I am not one of those weird crazy nosey employers either - I swear!!)

27) Do you have any pets?
not yet, but a chocolate lab is on the top of the christmas list (even though I know I won't be getting one till we move next spring.)

28) Do you like handmade gifts?
Yes! In my estimation, if you can knit or crochet, you are creative and thoughtful creative gifts are the best. (That is one of the things that made me fall in love with my husband - handmade gifts.)

29) What̢۪s your favorite thing to make, knit/crochet or other craft wise?
Scarves and shawls are my favorite thing since you can stretch your knitting ability with new stitches, new shapes, lots of variety, can use any yarn, and I wear them all the time!

30) Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I don't really have a preference - for big projects its always circular, and smaller items are on straight needles. I probably prefer straight, but sometimes they just aren't practical, so I don't want to start having a bad attitude about circular because it will make the big hard projects seem harder.

31) Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
As much as I love it when my husband acts as a swift, I do own both a swift and winder. My knitting time is precious, I don't want to waste it winding yarn.

32) Tell us how you learned to knit/crochet?
My Grandmother taught me how to knit when I was 9. I got to go to my grandparents house by myself for two weeks - it was such a big deal. That summer my Grandmother "Mubs" taught me how to knit ( I had made several dishcloths by the time my two weeks were up, the last ones were perfect, too!) and how to embroider (I made a pillow top) while I was there. It was one of the coolest memories from my childhood.
When I was thirteen, I stayed with a girlfriend while my parents were at a convention. Her mom taught us how to crochet while I was there for four days. It just never quite held the same appeal. But it is quite handy for borders and such.
About two years ago, I was with my hubby in Omaha, staying with some of his friends for the weekend. The little boy was trying to learn how to crochet for a cub scout merrit badge (that is a whole other story), while I showed him how to do a single crochet - it really jumpstarted my knitting from a casual occasional thing to a full blown "problem" (not my word).

33) Do you enjoy getting helpful hints from others or does it just piss you off?
It is great getting tips from others!

34) How old is your oldest UFO?
6 months or so - anything that is older then that gets frogged - this one is on the fence, it may be going away soon!

35) Is there anything that you collect?
Other then yarn? Yes, vintage salt and pepper shakers, vintage pyrex, 20's/30's/40's and sometimes 50's pattern books for knitting, glass art, really art of most kinds, Washington State wine, vintage costume jewelry and vintage garden accessories.

36) Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Not that I know of. My last craze was R2 by Rowan,but I think I have exhausted that -- now there are just 10 more projects on my to-knit list. I am always looking for things that stretch the boundaries of my knitting (ie, the screendoor in AlterKnits, the wire planters in Simple Knits With A Twist - weird and functional.)

37) What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have if any?
I don't have any subscriptions, I tend to buy magazines on an issue by issue basis - depending on if I see projects that I want to do.

38) Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I have never knit socks, is that a technique? I am not sure about any other that I would want to learn . . . Never close the door to learning or possibilities!

39) Do you enjoy knitting socks? How big are yer boats (feet)?
I have never knit socks, but I just ordered a pattern and some wicking (keeps the moisture away from your skin) yarn, so I am going to try - my feet are an 8 1/2 US or 38 1/2-39 euro.

40) When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
07/31

just a little update

Just got this sweatshirt - made my day - I LOVE it!! I know that skulls are not going to be hip forever, to me that means I should stock up now!

And I got great news yesterday, I had my volunteer knitting class extended! I am so thrilled! It is so great to help others learn what you love to do.

Have a great long weekend!

Friday, September 01, 2006

the garden

I am finding my creativity again! Finally after years of too much work, it time to create and give life again! This year for the first time in a long while, I planted a garden. After the first couple of weeks, when I was SURE nothing was going to get that big and the whole thing was not going to be very sucessful, I planted more. Just to be sure and because it was pretty fun. Now look at the mass of plants!! The tomatoes are taller then me (5'5") and I keep having to chop things back, cut off branches, to make sure that everything is getting some sunlight. It has been amazing to have all these fresh veggies around the house too! Last night, Bill made big salads and all he had to buy was lettuce and carrots - the peppers, tomatoes, lemon basil, cucumbers were all home grown. I love that!! And every morning when I look out the back deck and see my mess of plants, it just makes me smile!! And I love being able to call my friends and neighbors and give away everything that we can't eat - which is quite a bit!! If anyone local actually reads this and would like some freshies, let me know . . .

I have to get Bill's knucks finished so that I can hang them in the garden and take some photos!

I have a knucks posting for later - back to the grindstone!!








Posted by sunneshine