Lace Handwarmers and Felted Hat

Currently knitting these lace handwarmers made from some yarn I handdyed - in greens and blues. The handwarmers are pretty stretchy..although the pattern says "Fits most women".

Hand side:

Palm side:


As for my felted hat, the sob story is that I made one of these in 2005 and subsequently lost the favorite hat, so I'm making another as I know it'll be cold with that Victoria wind whipping by, and I don't want to go another year without. The hat is made with 3 skeins of Noro Kureyon - at least that is, with the parts of the 3 skeins that I wanted, namely the bright red and pink parts. The dark gray and black parts I just cut out. As one of my BB buddies mentioned, it probably makes the colorway more random. That's true, it's turned out wonderfully.
Here's the pre-felted version:


Although it's rough on the hands while knitting, Kureyon knits and felts up like a dream into a firm but soft fabric, albeit a little hairy. Definitely use a lingerie bag when felting one of these, it definitely sheds.

Just drying now, when it's dry, I'll post a pic of the finished hat.

Pet Peeve Adventure and Rant

Lately, in the last couple of weeks, I have been on a bit of an adventure. Unbeknownst to me, I have managed to pick up (twice now) objects that have lay idle for months secretly storing up gruesome smoky smells. Each time, I have thought nothing of grabbing said object and pushing it into a bag with my knitted objects or projects (Gak!) that are clean and non-smoky. Yuk, Disgusting. Yes, you can tell, i'm a non-smoker.

Last friday night, I was working avidly on my knitted felt hat, the hat to replace the beloved felted hat that I lost a year or two ago -that was my first ever knitting project from a class . This to-be felted hat lies ready and waiting, far away from other projects because when I arrived home on friday night, I realized I had put a smoky project (fall star stitch scarf) into a bag overnight with my other clean projects (to-be felted hat, and finished dream-in-color shrug). ugh. Another bout of febreze and the projects including the scarf smell new - a temporary measure until I can get to rinsing them with wool wash or eucalan. The hat to be felted anyway will have a bit of soap to keep it company in the wash so the smell will go.

Tonight yet again, I managed to put a smoky-smelling synthentic scarf (say that 5x fast!) in with my knitting stuff, after having worn said scarf into work, at lunch, and to knit night. Yuk! I didn't realize until I arrived home and pulled my knitting and knitted items out that they smelled smoky.

So, you might ask, "how are they getting smoky ?" Well, in my move last Dec, the professional movers I hired smoked furiously at breaks, came in, did a cursory wash of their hands, and went back to packing my stuff. Since I-5 was closed at christmas time, I ended up not being able to transport my clothes myself, so they were pushed into the professional move, and packed by yep, professional movers who smoke and have the dang smoky residue on their hands, and transferred it to my clothes. Great.

Now, as I've been unpacking some clothes from my storage unit I've discovered clothes that have held onto the smoke and ick now, able to store and transfer the yukky stuff again to my clothes. You bet I'm peeved.

I do have to say that I in my past life, I was way more tolerant of smoke. Having lived in Germany for 2 years where smoking, even with dinner, was the norm for many Germans, I knew that going to dinner at 8pm as was the norm for most germans meant grey blue smoke filled restaurants and pubs. My friends and I generally went out to dinner early at 6ish to avoid the smoke. When I returned from Germany to Portland, I was more tolerant than when I had been living in Germany even. That has definitely worn off now.

Now, with the rule about no smoking within 3m of an entry way, I see a habit that has changed its nature. Since smokers can no longer smoke inside the building, outside the building, or near the building, I see way more smokers smoking in their cars, dropping butts on the street, flicking ashes out windows, and smoking up a storm inside their cars before going in to work, or handling merchandise inside stores - including yarn stores.

Anyway, to anyone reading this - if you handled any items knitted by me in the last couple of weeks, and you're a non-smoker and were bothered by smelling my smoky items, I'm sorry if they were smoky, and smelled smoky. I hope I didn't transfer any of it to your knitting projects. I didn't know. I hope I'm training my nose to discern quicker the unwanted smells, and isolate the offending object sooner, and treat them with febreze, wool wash and/or a trip to the laundry.

Phew - let's hope this part of the adventure is over sooner rather than later.

Artifacts of Reno and a skein of yarn

Other sights from Reno:

This elaborate statue was outside the hallway leading to the Brews Brothers Brewery in downtown Reno -

and

and


This debit card-style wine vending machine - Buy by the ounce - 1oz, 3oz, and 5 oz:-

and up close and personal:


The bottle is hidden behind a plate of glass, and the spout extends out and literally drips your wine into your glass. Prices ranged from about $1.50 per oz to over $30 for a 5oz glass.

I couldn't resist snapping a photo of this bread -

yep, it's really bread. cool..?

and in the main floor bathrooms (restrooms) of the Grand Sierra - these sinkless sinks -


The spout is an automatic faucet; and the water runs down the slanted flat surface to be drained away, so no sinks to clean. The soap was automatic too.

The weather was wonderfully warm - about 85-90F, but dry dry heat, with very little humidity. I wore shorts on the Sunday downtown, and felt like the heat was killing me. Good thing I'd changed from wearing my jeans. I found Trader Joe's in Reno, near the Meadowwood Mall, a short bus ride from the hotel (downtown, and then, one transfer out). Across the way - Jimmy Beans Wool, the brick-and-mortar store. It was a smallish LYS - and no buying program. I purchased one skein of Manos Silky merino which matched the top I was wearing that day - in my trademark (now) purple-pink color that I love! We're spoiled in Portland for great customer service and yarn buying programs. The lady from JBW who helped me with directions to the bus stop was very helpful to this out-of-town visitor.

Reno Auto Museum

Sunday the 7th September - Reno Auto Museum (dinner and car-browsing).


This is a Jerrari - made by Jeep with a Ferrari engine in the 1950's - It's top speed: 120mph. Hmm..perfect for that stay-at-home mom.


A harley during the times of James Dean:


Gull-wing Mercedes-Benz from 1956:


and inside:

Reno Balloon Races

Back to the races..here's some fun pics from afar of the Reno Balloon Races held the previous weekend in Reno, NV.

This first pic shows how far away the balloons were from my hotel Grand Sierra Casino and Resort:



The pink and white one is the ever-famous Energizer Bunny Balloon which a friend of mine tells me is the tallest balloon in the world. I was lucky enough to find a setting on my camera for Macro which pulled the balloons in, and magnified them a little. At the smallest size, they are the most recognizable:



The pictures on this setting look almost surreal, as if they were painted.
Here's the bunny from behind. That "N" is on the hill behind the balloons. My guess is "RENO", but I could only spot the "R" and the "N":



The brown head with the gold hat - Smokey the Bear:


At the bottom right of this next photo near the "N" is a red, black and yellow Bee - perhaps HoneyNut Cheerios ? Not sure -


Here's the "R":


and a closer pic of the Bee:

Lovely Wollmeise

We interrupt the regular scheduled blogging with the exciting news that on a whim I checked out the wollmeise.de site last month, just in the timeframe when Claudia had opening the window for her new sock club. Having seen the wollmeise yarns up-close-and-personal from Tiffany on a previous Friday, I was enchanted. My timing was just right, I submitted my info, and voila, the following Monday was contacted by e-mail and invited to join the exclusive sock club.

While I was away in Reno and Portland - my first shipment arrived - 2 lovely skeins of wollmeise sock yarn superwash - one a deep purple, one a deep green, a pattern for lovely cabled socks (i mog di), and a set of 5 dpns made from remainder wood used to make musical instruments, and a free ruler (lol! claudia uses the ruler to keep the dpns from breaking - what a great idea!).

First off, I love love love the yarn - yes, they're my colors - and no, sorry, no trading on these lovelies. Also, the yarn and pattern are close to my heart as I was in Bavaria myself for 2 years.

I'm not sure exactly the rules of posting pics, so for now, here's the spoiler


- if you're reading and on Ravelry, look under the Wollmeise Group for pics.

The Biggest Little City...Reno

The thing about traveling is that sometimes you take so many pics you don't have time to blog it all in the time you have. Last week, I went to Reno, NV for a work conference. The pics I took were small artifacts of the things I saw, the experiences I had. Many things are only in my mind, so they can't be shared, but here's a few of the sights I saw.



I arrived Saturday the 6th. My first experiences were seeing an overwhelming number of slot machines. They've discontinued the use of coins, so I was disappointed to find out that the machines only print slips of paper now which can be then converted to cash. On my way to baggage claim, my first introduction to the people of Reno was a man heading in the opposite direction, slicked back hair, wearing shorts, running shoes, and a full-length white-ish gray fur coat. He glanced at me as we passed, daring me to say something. I walked on towards baggage claim.

Arriving at the hotel - Grand Sierra Resort, just a few minutes away from the airport, I was struck by the sheer size of the hotel. The grand entrance opens up under a foyer of lights, and inside, rows on rows of slot machines, black jack tables, roulette and craps tables.

My room was on the 27th floor (the highest) in the dark tower - self-named for the dark and manly decor - black hallways, and dark carpet. The man at the desk told me the "suites" were actually condos, and only called "suites" when their owners' were traveling.

My room -


Bathroom - (ahem, restroom for us readers)


Entry way - the suite came with a microwave, fridge, and personal ashtray (yuk! Reno is still behind in that respect)


and flat-screen tv:


One thing - no mini-bar, and no free water - This is Voss, an imported water from Norway - $6 per bottle:


On a side note, on Tuesday evening, I ate dinner at one of the hotel restaurants - they offered me a choice of tap water or bottled water. Do-over: pick bottled water.

In the bathroom, no tub - a 2-person shower, with a rain shower head - ooohhh what a treat!

Slipped off my yarn DIE-t

Friday was scheduled as a flex, but Thursday, I decided to move it out a week in time for my trip to Reno for a business conference. As a last minute idea, I decided to go to Vancouver to check out the sale at Three Bags Full. Megan B. came along, and we had a great time, and saw quite a bit. The sale was packed with people - 20 to 30% off most yarns, and some were 50%, and 70% off. Incredible Blue Sky Alpacas yarns on sale, and I picked up some teal alpaca silk to round out the 4 skeins I already had in Stash. Intended for the Lacy Wrap sweater (designed for cotton).

The gauge looks like it'll be a match, so that's on my queue next. Hopefully, I can get through my current projects soon so I can start that one next. I found also another skein of the organic cotton in bone to add to the 3 that irunnnaked (ravelry) sent in her swap pkg, and found a very nice pattern online that needs 4 skeins. How lucky is that ! - the pattern is Ophelia, and it's a lacy kind of wrap that is short sleeve.

and can you say (drum roll please) - Mmmmmalabrigo -


Hollyhock


Fuchsia


Vigo


Hot pink Silky Merino

Mary caught me mid-lineup in an incriminating sliding clear off my yarn diet pose - with a basket full of goodies some of which I have to admit were put back as the line wound around the store.

August activities update

Well, some belated posting about August activities. Between the 2 swap packages, I went to Portland in early August, the weekend of the Olympics, and went to Woodburn Outlet and found some clothing there. Also, Close Knit was having their big summer sale (20% off) and found some Manos Silky merino which was new for me - there - doesn't that look yummy ?


I picked up the 1 skein of the BSA Suri Merino in Garden I've been wanting, and a few patterns. Also, went to the Japanese Garden


...ate at a couple of favorite restaurants - One Thai (in NE, on Alberta). They have a huge (and I mean huge!) thai coffee or thai tea that looks like it is served in a glass that is literally a bowl on top, with a long stem. Also went to Peem Kaew on the Park blocks (1 block south of the main post office) - I love their curry salmon, and the pad thai with crab. Yum! Also, went one night to Pho Van in Beaverton. They make a lovely pho with braised duck and mushrooms, which is warm and yummy.

Next, came back and tried to knit quickly to pick up on Ravelympics 2008 for our Team - Team Bitchy Bees -


I had entered 8 wips-wrestling projects, and 2 new projects - Cherie Amour, and the Dream in Color Shrug, that Crystal had sent me for the Summer swap. I swatched both, and off I went. After 16 days, it was clear that I was lucky to finish what I did. Aug. 13th was the Beer Knit get together, which is when I was knitting the start of my Cherie Amour. That one I finished in time, well, as a vest.


It's really comfy. I might change my mind later and add sleeves, but for now, it's very comfortable to wear just as a vest. I finished 2 Wips - my lotus bamboo tank which I started in 2006:


and a pair of cable footies in the Vera colorway in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted.


They're a variation of the footies from One Skein, as I thought the weave was too loose on those, and so made them with a US 5, and a few more stitches. I'm wearing them around the house now, and enjoying them. I worked on 2 other wips but did not finish - the Artyarns Dress - Shapely Symmetry Sheath, I frogged the front part back as there wasn't enough contrast on the dress, and started re-knitting. The second was the neck-down cardigan in Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino - finished the sleeve, blocked the front, and started the collar.

Current projects are the Dream in Color Shrug, and the Shapely Symmetry Sheath.

Cool Package from BSA Swap

Received this cool package in the Blue Sky Alpacas (BSA) Swap on Ravelry last Wednesday. Flickr was hung a couple of days, and I couldn't get in there to update the photo, so I'm a little late posting.



I was really spoiled this time -

3 beautiful skeins of organic cotton
2 skeins of Alpaca Silk in Red, and 2 skeins in a deep royal purple (both of which I love!)

Speaking of which, what's not to love ? I love the whole package!

She also treated me to a lt pink Flip Notes Book (with debossed leaves on the front) -very pretty, and tea - a tin of Lupicia Jasmin Green Tea (which I haven't seen this brand), a Harney Tea Tagalong in Hot Cinnamon Sunset, and a couple of bags of stash tea. Then, onto chocolate - yes, she treated me also with chocolate - a Lindt intense dark bar, Dolfin milk green tea chocolate (which I also haven't seen - what a treat - milk chocolate and green tea together-yum!), and 2 ritter sport bars.

Last but not least, 2 souvenirs from Alaska - a bear with fish keychain, and a pair of hot pink socks with flowers.

and she xpresspost'd the box so it arrived really fast, and the chocolate didn't have a chance to melt - thanks Jen! I hope your spoiler is as good to you!

Fabulous Week

August's here and I had a fabulous week. I received my swap package from the Four Seasons (Summer) Swap on Ravelry. My sender absolutely spoiled me - I received everything wrapped in wonderful pink tissue paper and everything I wanted:

Here's the before:


and the after:



2 skeins of Dream in Color Classy in Punky Fuchsia
Dream in Color Shrug Pattern
A Tin of Harney Tea - Pomegranate Oolong - This tastes so good!
Dark chocolate with chilis
milk chocolate covered espresso beans (customs had to check this out - luckily for me, they didn't sample any!)
fun stitch markers
notecards for tracking my needles
and a hand-crocheted dish scrubbie in blue (I'm not a crocheter so it's kind of thrilling to receive something handcrocheted by someone else)


and I received my July shipment for Yarn Pirate - Cupcake - in my favorite colors - pink and chocolate brown. This one's a keeper! and it's BFL, so I get to try this one.