Holy hyperlink Batman, she's actually blogging!

Okay, so it has been a while since my last post. Alright, the Red Socks were in the playoffs during my last post. Moving to a new city and starting a new job has taken a lot out of me - mostly my joy and enthusiasm. No, it hasn't been THAT bad, but I have just been too exhausted to blog.



So, without further ado, here is my 2007 year-end review (that I had planned on doing before the year ended.)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, FROM ALLENA

Just about everyone at work put their family Christmas cards up on a bulletin board. A few were just of their dogs. This got me thinking about making a Christmas card. I got as far as this picture. I love it. Even though it may need this caption (think The Far Side).

"Allena realized that her Christmas Card may not increase her chances of finding love in 2008, but she knew she would be happy knitting, spinning and sewing anyway!"

This picture contains most of my highlights from 2007.

First, I need to pay tribute to the ornaments on my first fake tree. My grandmother Elizabeth did incredible needlepoint and embroidery. Every year she made Christmas ornaments. Now I have 25 beautiful handmade ornaments.

Except for the one on the top. "The Ballerina Pig", is a bit of a family joke. I don't know why, but my mother HATES pigs. Not actual pigs, just stuffed animal pigs, pigs on mugs, the pig on a tractor figurine I got for her at a truck stop in Texas, etc. So, of course this means that people are often giving her obnoxious pigs. I don't know who, but someone gave her a set of pig Christmas ornaments.
I cannot remember all of them, but "The Ballerina Pig" was always my favorite, probably because my mother hated it most of all. I was honored to receive the most hated pig - so thought it deserved the top spot.

My mother may HATE pigs, but she loves camels. She bought herself this little tree just for her camel ornaments.

The rest of 2007 ...... coming soon!

Be a doctor, or just .....

... wear the scrubs that are "designed" by someone who plays one on T.V.

I find THIS very strange.

What do you think?

KNIT NEW HAVEN - WONDERFUL NEW YARN SHOP

I wrote a post, a long time ago, about something that doesn't even matter anymore. It caused some "trouble", so I deleted it.

All that matters is that KNIT NEW HAVEN is a wonderful new yarn store in New Haven, CT.

You can read more about my lovely visit to the store HERE.

While I was there I bought this yarn:

I have spend a lot of time over the past couple of days in Doctor's offices, and this yarn has been an amazing comfort to me. I will post a picture in a few days when I write my post about my adventures in Boston.

BLOGGABLE

Every now and again something happens - and even while it's happening - I think - THIS IS BLOGGABLE.


WARNING: This story will be told "Allena Style" - A 15 second interaction will be drawn out with (a lot) of "interesting" but unimportant information. I feel the need to write a warning, but there is a reward if you make it to the end!

Last Saturday unexpected rain set the stage for a small impromptu knitting with the group that I knit with, Sit 'n Knit New York. I was the first one to arrive at 590 Atrium, and was minding my own business, and truly LOVING what I was knitting.

Details of what I was knitting are necessary here so that you understand how much I was enjoying myself.

The Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy Sock Yarn in "Happy Forest". I bought this yarn from Wool Girl as my reward for finishing my 154th Monkey Bag and starting My Hiatus. It feels great, has amazing subtle hand dyed variations that give it amazing depth, and kicks Colinette Jitterbug's sorry little skein with 450 yards. I LOVE this yarn.

The Pattern: Embossed Leaves from Favorite Socks. I have been wanting to knit these for a while now and what could be better than Embossed Leaves in Happy Forest.

The Cast On: I came to the realization that due to my flat feet, socks with short row heels do not fit. This realization came with the desire to find a cast on that I liked for cuff down socks. I found THIS (f-bomb)ing tutorial for a magical tubular cast on. In order to work it in the round, I just joined the provisional cast on and worked 4 rows of purling in the round. Knitters - just knit the little tutorial. It will blow your mind!

Since I was waiting for other knitters, I was probably looking around more than I normally would, but I was really enjoying working the cast on of the second cuff. (I had placed the first aside so that I could work the socks two at a time using magic loop.)

(Oh, Penelope, I know I said that you were crazy to knit from both ends of your yarn ball when knitting socks two at a time, but I was wrong - you are brilliant. Working from both ends is so much better than two separate balls!)

All of a sudden a voice from behind me says, "You shouldn't be knitting right now, you should be on a treadmill."

I turn around to see a slightly older than middle age man sitting at a table behind me. Sitting with his feet up on a little plastic stool (that he must have brought with him), and an Amigo type vehicle parked behind him.

"Excuse me?" I squeaked.

He repeated himself. "You shouldn't be knitting right now, you should be on a treadmill."

Then I said something lame like, "Well when I work out I work out, but right now I am knitting."

And he felt the need to keep talking and said, "Well, Just as long as you do both."

What?!!!

The first thought that went through my head was, "But I don't have any rhythm. I'm not like Penelope (who knits on the exercise bike). I can't do one thing with my hands while my feet are doing something else." (Which is something I will have to work on to learn to spin!)

Next, this thought screamed in my head:
"Who the f-bomb do you think you are talking to (fill in your favorite expletive here). This is New York City and I am knitting with Knit Picks Nickel-Plated Fixed Circular Knitting Needles - in Size 2. This admittedly chubby girl that you are saying weird a$$ $hit to is holding two very sharp sticks!"

Then I thought, "Bloggable, totally bloggable!"

But I was way to excited to get to the part of the cast on where "the magic happens" that I could be bothered. My knitting saves lives!

Oh, and of course, I told everyone who showed up to knit the story. Tawana gave a great summary of our time knitting together - with pics.

I am getting film developed tomorrow (you remember film - it's what you have to use while your digital is on the fritz) and then there will be pics of the Bohus' progress and surgery - and my misadventures during the first night with my wheel.

If you read this entire post, and post a comment of what you would have said, I will give you a one dollar bill the next time I see you. (I will be at the Spin Out this Saturday and Rhinebeck for the Saturday). Ask Anne-Marie, she'll vouch for me, your will get a whole dollar!

Oh, and as far as I know, even though I haven't been able to make my big announcement yet, doesn't mean I won't be able to make it ..... soon I hope. GRRRRR to slow HR Departments!

MAMA'S SO PROUD!

How is this for a small knitting world:



Nicole, an awesome girl I knit with, went to Austin, TX.



I told her to check out The Knitting Nest. A new shop that literally just opened. I know about the shop because the AWESOME owner Stacy, bought 10 of my bags to sell in her shop.



Nicole went to the shop and took this picture: Those are my bags! In a shop, surrounded by some really nice looking yarn. Nicole bought the lime polka dot one (hiding in the back). Assuming that Stacy is displaying all of the bags that she bought - that means that at least 6 have sold!

Mama's so proud!

Birthday Post!

Today, September 15, is my 30th Birthday!

I had a wonderful lunch with my knitting friends and then saw Across the Universe with my roommates. As a thritysomething, single woman I would like to say that there is much more you need in this world than love - like great knitting friends for instance.

I will have some BIG news in a few day - along with a new blog to chronicle my adventures as The Sinister Spinster! (I got THIS wheel for my birthday!)

Jag älskar min bohus, men hatar min kamera!

I LOVE MY BOHUS, BUT HATE MY CAMERA!

I am on chart row 40 of the yoke of my beautiful Blue Shimmer Bohus pullover - and my camera is not working. My camera is actually on it's way to Nikon to see if it can be fixed and for a cost that will not exceed its actual value.

I will describe some of what I have knit. (I did get a disposable and at some point there will be pictures)

I wanted to do hemmed edges rather than ribbed, here is what I did.

I started with this provisional cast on, which I love. I will give a crisp $1 bill to the first person who can prove to me that the provisional cast on from knittinghelp.com is possible. It is the one video of the most brilliant knitting website that I have determined to be some sort of prank.

Then I knit in stockinette for 5 rows in the main color, imagine the lightest blue that you have ever seen in a clear sky.

I also wanted a picot edge, so over the even number of stitches I:

k1, *[yo, k2tog] repeat from * to last stitch, k1 (this is the row where you turn the hem).

After knitting another 5 rows, I pulled out the provisional cast on while picking up the stitches on a separate needle. The pattern called for increasing on the first row of the yoke after the ribbing so I alternated between knitting both the original stitches together and separately with the provisional stitches to join the hem and increase in the same row. I did get some help from Nona.

Since there are no pictures I will leave you this link - it "speaks" for itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww

56 DOWN AND BOHUS TO GO!

Since I created a blog that would allow people to create their own Commemorative Sockapalooza 4 Sock Project Bag I have:

- Sewn and shipped 56 bags.

- Increased the price of the bags to $15 plus $2 for shipping.

- Sold 5 gift certificates.

- Received payment and begun sewing a batch of 20 bags.

- Have a second batch of 19 who have all been e-mailed to expect their invoices around the 8th of August and for their bags to ship around the 15th of August.


- Have a third batch, currently with 13 bags, which I notify customers as the orders come in that their invoices will arrive around the 17th of August and bags will ship around the 27th of August.

- And not to count my Monkeys before they .... are actually paid and sewn ... may have sold 10 bags to a customer in Austin, TX, who was so thrilled with the two bags she received she wants 10 to sell in the knitting shop she is opening in September.

Including the shop order, that's ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR bags!

Feeling as though I may never have time to knit again, I decided to pick a project where I could learn new skills and knit MYSELF something beautiful - to wear to Rhinebeck.

I have chosen the Bohus Blue Shimmer.

My plan to wear my beautiful Bohus Blue Shimmer at Rhinebeck is already in action.

I called School House Press today and ordered THE Bohus book:
Poems of Color by Wendy Keele
"This beautiful and historic book is available once again. Wendy Keele thoroughly researched the topic of Bohus knitting in Swedish museums and with some of the actual Bohus knitters; she even persuaded Emma Jacobson's heirs to release the closely guarded instructions for these amazing works of art. A book of truly lovely designs that we can now knit ourselves."

I knew I needed to by a kit to knit this sweater. School House Press recommended MaryJo of Stage Coach Yarns. She hand dyes all of the yarn to match the original Bohus designs. She has some kits ready to ship, others you might have to wait a week or so while she dyes the yarn for your kit! I know this because I called her today - such a sweet woman - and took it as a sign that she had a kit in the Blue Shimmer ready to ship and ordered one.

During my Bohus Googling, yes Bohus Googling (say it out load, you have to laugh!), I found Susanna Hansson's site. I was linked there by a blog that was raving about her Bohus workshops. A quick search of Susanna's workshop schedule that she would be giving a Bohus Workshop at WEBS on September 30th! I have given myself Susanna's workshop to myself as a 30th birthday present (I will be 30 on the 15th of September). The workshop is not even posted on the WEBS website and it is already almost full.

My plan is to have the sweater completed up to the colorwork by the workshop -although Susanna sells kits for wristlets at the workshop to knit a little Bohus - and to have the sweater completed by Rhinebeck.

That is, if the monkeys don't kill me first!

My Top Five Blue Things

OF ALL TIME! (totally stolen from High Fidelity)

#5 - Blue Jeans - What would we wear without them?

#4 - Blue Satin Sashes - (My Favorite Things - The Sound of Music)

#3 - Blue Cheese - You have to love a visible mold that tastes so good.

#2- Blue - The Joni Mitchell Album with the song All I Want with the line
"I wanna knit you a sweater"

And the Top Blue Thing of All Time

THE BLUE BLOG

Thank you Alison!

Where are you on the Ravelry wait list?

You can now check to see where you are on "The List" for your Ravelry invitation.
I love the title they gave the page to check your spot.

http://www.ravelry.com/antsy

I would say that antsy is a pretty good descriptions of how I am feeling!

Here are my stats:

You signed up on June 4, 2007
You are #6386 on the list.
575 people are ahead of you in line.
11136 people are behind you in line.
32% of the list has been invited so far

CRAZY!!!!

Aren't they cute?

Here is the second batch of Sockapalooza 4 Bags, all ready to be packed and shipped:

I told the third batch to stand up straight!

It has been so much fun to see all of the different combinations that people have made! Yes, I am having a lot of FUN!

Don't you want one? Just go to http://www.sockapalooza4bag.blogspot.com/, and create a bag that I sew just for you!

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness!

On Tuesday I launched http://www.sockapalooza4bag.blogspot.com/ . Using Sockapalooza 4 themed Moda Funky Monkey fabric I am letting people choose their own fabric for their bag. I started selling them at $10 and then realized that $12 was much more sensible (and profitable). I posted about it here and on the Sockapalooza 4 pligg. In less than 48 hours I have sold sixteen bags!

Okay, I was going to tell this whole story (yes, Anne-Marie, there is always a story), but I have bags to sew and I have a feeling there may be a lot more bags to sew! Because Alison, of The Blue Blog, author of Charmed Knits: Projects for the Fans of Harry Potter (which I own), the whole organizer of Sockapalooza 4, bought one of my bags! I sent her the invoice like everyone else and then e-mailed her to ask if it was okay if I blogged about her buying one of my bags. She not only said that I could blog about it, but she said that when she gets the bag she is going to blog about it!!!

I think I am going to need more fabric!

Hey Sockapalooza 4 Knitters - CHECK THIS OUT!

Hey Sockapalooza 4 Knitters, and knitters who love a cool project bag, check this out:

www.sockapalooza4bag.blogspot.com

You get to choose from 10 fabrics to create your own commemorative Sockapalooza 4 project bag!

The bag is completely reversible. These pictures are of opposite sides of the same bag.

The sides measure approximately 7.5" high by 20" around.

The bottom is 5" by 5" square.

Every bag gets 30 inches of 2mm silk wrapped red elastic cord with a black plastic double stop.

And did I mention that they are only $12 - including shipping? Better order soon, the fabric will run out eventually!

Knit on the Fourth of July

I have been meaning to knit a sweater for RedSweaters.org. I decided that the Fourth of July was perfect. I realize it is simple and small, but a finished object in about 90 min. (I am a slow seamer) is preaty cool! Oh, and you don't sew in those two ends - there are used to tie all of the sweaters together.
I have a ton of extra Red Heart left over, so if you want to knit one let me know and I'll give some "Heart".

Of course there's a story...

... there's always a story. This one ended with me returning to New York today. I think this post card I got at the airport on my way home sums it up for now: There are some really good bits to my time in Richmond, most involving yarn and knitting ... I will fill y'all in real soon, ya here - ma'am.

MY DAD!

An empty martini glass, his favorite "desert" cat on your shoulder , and a Country Curtains Catalogue .... That's My Dad!

If I can every manage to explain to him what a blog is maybe he will visit someday. He looks good for 72, but has only just learned how to use the frog (what the rest of us call a mouse).

Even bigger news!

Today I became an aunt for the second time! Both Mommy and baby are doing fine, oh and my brother the Dad is also well. Ashley Nicole was born at 12:43 p.m. She weighs 7 lbs and 8 ozs. and is 19 inches long.

Whoo Hooo!

(WARNING - POSTING WHILE SLIGHTLY INTOXICATED)

I GOT A JOB TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's an 8 week travel assignment at Bon Secours, St. Mary's in Richmond, Va.

I am replacing an employee who's last day is next Friday. I want to get there as soon as I can to have as much time training with her as possible. However, there is a lot to do, between now and when my flight leaves JFK at 9:05 AM on Tuesday.

1) Tomorrow I am getting a FED EX am delivery of a package which will include numerous forms to sign (one even needs to be notarized), and specimen collection containers. I will have to fax certain forms along with photocopies of CPR certification and ARDMS ID card. All original forms need to be sent back in a return FED EX envelope.

2) Take the PATH to Hoboken get on the 1:10 PM train to Middletown, NY. My mother is picking me up and taking me to a Doctor's office in Monroe to fill the specimen containers so that a lab can confirm that I have all the necessary titers and that even though I blog while intoxicated I don't do drugs. And have a PPD planted to make sure that I don't have TB.

3) Witness the birth, okay, no, be in the same building while my sister has a scheduled C-section. I am going to be an aunt again earlish Monday morning. My sister-in-law's one request is that John (nephew extraordinaire - soon to be BB - shoot I need to find him the t-shirt) be the first one to see the new baby! Well, firstish. I think this is super sweet.

4) Go back to the Dr's office on Saturday (yes they are open on Saterdays) to have the PPD read to make sure I don't have TB.

5) Go back to the city and ......

It's going to be a freak show - with me as the main attraction. Don't be surprised if you don't hear from me until I am in Richmond.

Oh, but look what I found on Yahoo yellow pages!

That's right 4 knitting shops in Richmond alone.

And fabric, check this out!

Yep, 16 fabric stores, in Richmond!

Of course I have my priorities in order! Right now I am blogging while drinking this:

PINK CHAMPAGNE - Don't worry Dan, THE BEST ROOMMATE EVER HELPED.

Okay, I do need advice on what is the best way to get my sewing machine to Richmond. I am thinking I might have to carry it on! Advice?

To all of my New York knitting buddies ... I will miss you all. If my apartment/long-term hotel has a top loading washing machine - the felting IS ON!

Yeah, I'm it, I'm it!

Okay, so this blog tagging thing is going around. Thank you Anne-Marie for tagging me!

I found the "rules" on Chante's Blog.
Rules:
1. Each player starts with 8 random facts about themselves.
2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their 8 random things and post the rules.
3. At the end of your post you need to tag 8 people and post their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

I tend to be a little bit of an "over sharer" so I will try and censor myself .. a little. But, I am going to use lots of pictures - didn't Anne-Marie look cute on the Cat Chow box?

1) My mother's parents both worked for Aramco in Saudi Arabia. My grandfather, Paul, was recruited as a Petroleum Engineer and my grandmother, Elizabeth, as a Nurse. They met there, fell in love, got married (all my grandmother had to wear was her best dress - it was black!), my grandmother was fired, had my mother, and they became the first westerns to live in Abqaiq (pronounced Ab Cake), Saudi Arabia. I believe the picture on the left was taken on their wedding weekend on Bahrain Island. You can read the whole story in Chapter Two of this book.

2) From the time I was 6 months old until I was 27 months my family (Dad, Mom, older brother Paul) lived in San 'a', Yemen. My father was the Military Attache at the American Embassy. We were "evacuated" when the hostages were taken at the American Embassy in Iran. I say "evacuated" because my mother, "just didn't see why we had to rush, we were leaving soon anyway!" This is a truly random fact about me because I do not have a single memory of my time in Yemen.

#3) I was raised by a retired military intelligence officer turned onion farmer and a teacher in a very small town just northwest of New York City. Pine Island, New York, is mainly drained swamp land. The soil is so rich, it is black - and actually quite beautiful. It is hard to believe that this place exists less than two hours from New York City. It is a great place to visit in the fall if you have kids - all of the trucks and tractors, and it is really close to orchards for fruit picking.



4) I graduated in 1999 from Skidmore College with a Bachelor of Science in Theater with a concentration in Acting!!!!!!!??????????? A Bachelor of Science just means you have more credits in your major, but it also just makes it sound like B.S. I miss the way acting used to make me feel, but by the time I graduated it just wasn't worth it anymore.

5) Since graduating from college I have lived (in this order): Newnan, Ga - Atlanta, Ga - Danville (Bay Area), Ca - Sacramento, Ca (which I fondly refer to as the Albany of California) - back home to Pine Island - Boston, Ma - and now in Astoria, NY. Astoria is by far my favorite.

6) I moved to New York from Boston to complete a 15 month Ultrasound program. I have been looking for an Ultrasound job seriously since passing the ARDMS registry exam in February. (There were two tests - one in Physics and one specially, I took general abdomen). It has literally been going nowhere, but I DO NOT WANT TO MOVE again. So, if you know anyone who works in a Radiology Dept. anywhere please let me know. It just seems to be the sort of job where you have to know someone to even know that a job exists - in NYC anyway.

7) When I lived in Sacramento (how I even got there is a long story) I got a job for an Event Planning company called, The Fun Company (save your jokes, it gets better). The Fun Company provided the services for LARGE company picnics. We would bring all of the BBQ equipment, carnival games, bounce houses, etc. We serviced the entire west coast from Oregon to Mid Texas. In order to get the equipment to all of these places I learned to drive stick on 30 foot 30,000 lb truck. I am 4' 11" - I had to drive w/ a pillow behind me in order to get the clutch all the way in - you do a lot of shifting up and down the mountains of Washington and Oregon. Oh, and I had to wear this t-shirt (this is the back):

8) My favorite appliance is the Sharp Warm and Toasty. It is a microwave/toaster oven in one unit. It king of freaks me out - there is metal in the microwave - but it cooks veggies like you wouldn't believe! Also, in the summer you can cook without using your huge, heat creating oven. The warm and toasty comes a close second to my Melitta 1:1 coffee maker - it makes coffee a cup at a time, in less than a minute!

I tag Gail, Kris, Cindy, Judes, Senora Fuerte, Kristina, and Jen (with the best blog name ever), and Brian Williams.

And don't forget to check out my Etsy store: www.knittingewe.etsy.com

Better Early Than Late!

I am please to announce that my Etsy Shop is now open!

www.knittingewe.etsy.com

In case you were wondering, THIS is the big project I have been alluding to over the past couple of posts. If you have any suggestions - or god forbid notice a grammar, syntax or spelling error - please let me know

It's funny to realize that choosing and cutting the fabric, finding notions and cord, sewing, falling down, were the easy parts.
I would like to introduce you to the difficult lady of the process:

Lucy - the Knitting Ewe on the Go

I created Lucy with the cunning use of rubber stamps, scanner, photo editing software, printer, a black sharpie, and my kitchen table. Putting a push light on the wire rack under the glass top made it the perfect tracing table. Considering I do not draw - Lucy is pretty great. Special thanks to Penelope, the skate board was her idea. Dan, the best roommate EVER, was that voice that everyone needs during a creative process. The voice that says things like, "I really can't tell what that is suppose to be."

Lucy is a very useful ewe.

I used her to make this button (which is also on the sidebar of my blog):

It still needs a little work.

The banner for my shop:

Banner Maker Pro 6 was the perfect tool for the button and banner - they also have a 15-day trail period.

She will also appear on the tag that will be attached to each item. Lucy on the front with care information, etc. on the back. I also made business cards so that I can give them to people when they ask me about my "lovely handmade bag".

I am going to be creating a special limited edition - available by special order only - Sit 'N Knit New York - bag. How special? Well, I ordered the silk screen printing kit today. The first will be raffled on World Wide Knit in Public Day.

WOW, I DID IT!