In case you haven’t been following along, I’m cross posting my knitting both here and at my main site, BigPinkCookie. I just returned from a 2.5 week holiday (that we only wanted to be 10 days long) in Germany. And I finally knit something - one whole sock is done!
When my Mom was staying with us while there house was being worked on, she commented on how I wasn’t knitting. Crazy - not like there is a shortage of yarn in my house! - but I just didn’t seem to have it in me. But I packed yarn and needles when we went to Germany, and while sitting at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich, watching Mike enjoy his mass of beer, I cast on for my Fruit Loop Socks. I finished the first one on the train on the way to the airport to fly home, after working on it in Salzburg, Berchtesgaden, more in Munich, Wurzburg, Rothenberg, and Havert. I immediately cast on for number two while I was still on the train headed towards Amsterdam. I worked on it for most of the flight home, and off and on the rest of this week.
They will have an afterthought heel inserted once I finish the second sock and decide what colors to use for the heel. I’m using my US 000 needles, Magic Loop style. The yarn is Opal Feelings (wowowo Feeeeeeeeeeeeeelings), color #1701. It is made in Germany, but I purchased it in the US from the Knitting Zone. It is 64 stitches around. Plain Vanilla sock, since the yarn obviously needs no competition.
I should note that I purchased no yarn in Germany, even though I had the opportunity at least 2 times. I considered some sock yarn (the new Kaffe Regia yarn), but decided I could buy the same yarn in the US, and put it back down. The dollar is weak, the euro is strong, and my stash is really too big. Until I make more of a dent in it - and get the new lens I need before my fall wedding season begins - a yarn purchase didn’t make sense. Instead, I’ll have the memories knit into my Fruit Loop sock, and I’m perfectly happy with that.
You can find my knits on Ravelry - I’m “Christine” there - and I’m adding them slowly but surely. I created a PointySticks group too, so please join it if you’re interested!
First off, I have to say it. My t-shirt was a big hit. I was stopped by people several times throughout the day about it. Matter of fact, if I gave you a business card and you ended up here looking for the “I can go bat-shit crazy, or I can knit. Your choice.” t-shirt, visit the Spreadshirt store and get yourself one! (Rated G versions and other shirts available too!)
Now for part 1 of the rest of the story:
We (Mac & I) got up crazy early this morning, headed out the door by 6am (5am Houston time, so really early for my body clock), went to pick up Dell from her hotel, stopped off at the Dunkin’ Donuts - something we don’t have in Houston - and hit the road to head down to Maryland Sheep & Wool.
Somewhere around 8:45am, we arrived, and headed to The Fold, to get some of the infamous Socks That Rock yarn. After we stood in a long line to pick out colors, and a second long line to purchase the yarn, I sorted through all the yarns that I had taken to the line and picked out one to buy and passed the rest out to others in the first line standing by me. I was strong and resisted getting 5 skeins or something crazy like that, reminding myself that I could order it online. After getting through the line we saw Wendy for a few minutes, and discovered that there was no Koigu mill ends to be had. Unfortunately, one of the people of the Koigu team broke her foot the other day and they had to cancel their trip. Bummer, but we found other yarns to make up for it.
We then went to shop a whole bunch. We saw a lot of people - ironically, many from Texas! (I’m too tired and all the “outdoor” allergies are attacking me right now. Links & names later.) We saw more people. Animals. Crowds. Long lines and crazy tight booths. I left the Tess booth empty-handed because there was no WAY I could handle that craziness. I also left the Brooks Farm booth empty-handed, not because of the crowds so much as because Mike had told me that it was wrong to go all the way to Maryland to buy yarn that is from Texas. I also still have a stash of the Brooks Farm still waiting for me, so it was ok. I gave everything a nice loving squeeze, but my purchases stopped at lunchtime. I was rather proud of that resistance.
Then, after I spent some time bonding with Brooks Farm, we drove home. We were tired. The temperature had dropped and it was somewhat nippy. We fought a good battle, and we survived. I can now happily mark the Maryland Sheep & Wool festival off of my “things I must do someday” list. It was fun, but if you go - go early. The crowds get a bit crazy by mid-day. Bring lunch. Bring a blanket. Enjoy yourself and the people around you. It really is a good time. I have been informed that I should make sure I go to Rhinebeck too someday. I have definitely taken it under advisement.
Pictures, purchase list, links to products and links to people to come! (First, I need to go find some allergy meds and get some rest!)
I’ve tried not to let it stress me out too much that there hasn’t been a podcast for awhile. I feel bad about it, but life is currently in the way and I can’t do much about it. But this weekend? I leave in the morning to visit Philly with Mac, hooking up with other knitters (hopefully including Wendy, Krista, Sarah, and who knows who else! Maybe you?), meeting up with Dell, and heading over to Maryland Sheep & Wool (whoo hoo!), getting happy on fiber fumes, photographing goats & sheep, and maybe even buying some yarn! Then on Monday, I head up to NYC for a newborn baby portrait session, visit with more people there, including staying with Kayla and maybe even a meetup with Cara! (She’ll be in Philly when I’m in Maryland. How is that for irony?) Somewhere in there I’m sure there will be more yarn. I return to Philly for one last night, and then head back to Houston next week.
The iRiver is coming with me. I’ll be at the blogger gathering for lunch - hooking up with the Texas contingent, and hopefully also meeting Cat of Knit2Together at 4pm at the same spot - although I must continue my tradition of not being on video, so I am going to have to try to avoid the camera! Throughout the day, I am hoping to talk with others that are there, and record my thoughts on the day. So there WILL be a podcast in the not too distant future! Whoo hoo! If you’re at MDSW, look for me! I’ll be wearing my “bat-shit crazy” shirt. I’m so psyched!
So hang tight. Another show is coming. And I’ll try *really hard* to return to Houston with minimal stash. I wonder how I’ll do?
April is already shaping up to be a crazy month, and it is only the first. Mike’s birthday is this week, Jason’s birthday is on the 21st, I have several photo shoots already pending, I have a few more in the works, and I took on a contract assignment with a local web design firm helping with site migrations. Whew! It makes me tired just thinking about it all.
But it all has its rewards. Last week, I ordered and received my brand new fancypants lens for my camera. (A Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens, in case you were curious.) Tonight I booked my tickets to fly to Philly in May, hook up with Mac and Adelle and head on over to Maryland Sheep and Wool!
In the Philly area? Or are you going to Maryland Sheep & Wool? Really, we MUST hook up! Let me know!
Staci and I talk about a variety of issues on this episode, and while I don’t have much knitting to share, I have a lot to say about knitting and the community!
- We went to Austin, Texas and I attended the Saturday night knitfest coordinated by Julia at Hill Country Weavers. Staci & I both attended the Sunday “Meet the Bloggers” event that HCW hosted, and had the chance to meet Rhonda Bell of the Knitting News Cast, Stephen, Harold, and Jenny of the Stash & Burn podcast. We had a great time meeting them and hanging out with the fabulous Austin knitters!
- Staci finished up the Dale of Norway baby knits and her Chevron Scarf, and is now working on the Knitty sweater, making test swatches with Moda Dea wool, and test knitting a crochet purse from Hearthsong. For the record, the Crochet Dude & I could probably be in the same room at the same time - it just has never happened yet!
- Check back here for links to help you jump into the internet community if you haven’t already.
- Yarn Shops mentioned on the show: Hill Country Weavers (Austin, Texas), Yarntopia (Katy, Texas - Houston area), and Twisted Yarns (Spring, Texas - Houston area).
- Upcoming Fiber Fests: DFW Fiber Festival from April 13-15, 2007 and Maryland Sheep and Wool in May, 2007.
- To help support these adventures, to help with the “get a fancy mic” fund, and just because the saying cracks us up to no end, I’ve set up an online store to buy “I can go bat-shit crazy, or I can knit. Your choice.” t-shirts, along with other items - including toddler and baby “Future Knitter” items! Check them out!
- The above photo of “Dancing Lou” will be for sale on the Fresh Photography site soon, with the option to purchase a print and help out Basenji Rescue. I love Lou!
I haven’t knit in something close to a month. Photographs? Oh yeah, I have taken lots of photographs! (Including my first newborn photography session, which was a blast!) But no knitting. However, Staci and I got together yesterday and recorded Episode 16! So as soon as I pull it down and convert it to the right format, it will be online.
It is a good thing we recorded yesterday, because I’ve managed to talk so much in the past 3 days that I am losing my voice now. Eep!
I always anticipate that many of you don’t read my personal blog, and since I have been quiet over here, I just wanted to give you an update. I’ve been off in Austin, Texas for SXSW Interactive. This is normally a geek festival, and I went in part for reasons related to the podcast. It ended up being so very, very much more. Not only were there geek things going on, but there were CRAFTY things to be had too! Crafty things which will be discussed in detail in the next podcast. Just a brief list, as much for me to remember:
- The knit geeks got their knit on at Hill Country Weavers on Saturday night. We returned and met up with the Austin knitters (some were there both nights) on Sunday. Thank you, Hill Country Weavers!
- On Saturday, before we met up at HCW, I attended a panel which featured Vickie Howell and other amazing, creative women. Vickie Howell, for the record, is as adorably cute in person as she is on TV and in print. I will be setting up a date in the near future to interview her for Pointy Sticks. The purpose of the panel that Vickie was a part of was discussing women in the crafty business. It was full of great tips that anyone in business - man or woman - should hear. Especially if you are running your own business. Never, ever forget the value of your worth.
- Also on Saturday, I got to meet Cinnamon of Poise. Her bags, in one word? AMAZING. Beautiful, well constructed, fabulous. I must get one of her knitting bags. (I have my eye on the blue and brown one. Surprising, huh?) They are all so lovely, check them out!
- I met up with a member of the team at Scrapblog and finally learned what it is all about. Let me tell you, it is COOL. I take a lot of photos, and I’ve always wanted to scrapbook with them. I just have never gotten around to it. Scrapblog might finally give me a way to scrapbook my photographs, with the ease of Flickr included. You can take your photos, make a layout, and then print them as a book. How cool is that? There are other cool things you can do - check out their site.
- Speaking of making books, after seeing Lulu and Blurb book samples in person, I now know for a fact that the publishing industry is about to be turned on its head. You can make your very own HIGH QUALITY books and much more. You can do it, without waiting for a publisher. This just makes my head swirl with the possibilities.
- Got computer files you need to move around when you are on the go? Want a super cute designer flash drive? Check out the Mimobots! Goodness, these are just the CUTEST piece of hardware EVER. Seriously. They made me giddy every time I saw them, and the owners of the company? Fabulous. Great people to share your fried pickles with late on a Tuesday night at Katz’s on 6th Street in Austin. The One Love sticker will be on my laptop by tonight, and I really want to get one to tote my files around. (You can pre-order the Star Wars series of Mimobots, which I have seen in person. Good things!)
- More good stuff? Make and Craft magazine. I met them at their booth in the trade show, and learned about the upcoming Makers Faire that will be next fall in Austin, Texas. October 20 & 21, 2007 at the Travis County Fairgrounds. For those of you on the West Coast, there is one in the Bay Area on May 19 & 20, 2007.
Maker Faire is a newfangled fair that brings together science, art, craft and engineering in a fun, energized, and exciting public forum. The aim is to inspire people of all ages to roll up their sleeves and become makers. This family-friendly event showcases the amazing work of all kinds of makers–anyone who is embracing DIY and wants to share their accomplishments with an appreciative audience.
There will be a new podcast online in the next few days. My voice needs a chance to recover from 6 days of nearly non-stop talking. I learned so much and I have so much that I can not WAIT to share with you! (I was so focused on the panels and taking notes, I got absolutely no knitting done. Can you believe it? Sad, but true. More knitting this weekend.)
This weekend is SXSW! Yeah! And while everyone may be talking in the hallways about the geek parties, we know where all the fun is, right? With the knitters!
If you’re in Austin, there are several events that you could choose from!
- Saturday morning SnB at Cafe Caffeine. (Thanks, Julia, for the URL!) Knit from 10-12.
- Saturday evening, 6:30pm at Hill Country Weavers, right after the SXSW panel with Vickie Howell! (I’m going to be mere feet away from Vickie Howell at a panel. I might faint. Or squeal like I did when I met the Yarn Harlot. I’m just warning you.)
Here are the details (you can RSVP at Upcoming.org):
Are you are a knitter, a knit blogger, a friend of knit bloggers, a knit blog lurker, a crafter who feels kinship with knitters, or a yarn fetishist? Will you be in Austin during SXSW?
Planned snugly between the Boss Lady panel (with Vickie Howell from knitty gritty) and the serious evening parties - Suzanne from Hill Country Weavers has kindly offered up a place for us to get a little stitchin’ and bitchin’ done. Other crafters and knitters-to-be welcome as well!
There is a van that will kindly provide transport between the convention center and the LYS.
So if you’d to hobnob with some friendly faces, and get the inside scoop on the Austin knitting scene - we hope this will be a nice cross section of locals and out of towners alike!
Please spread the word!
- Sunday afternoon, Hill Country Weavers Knit & Knosh from 11am - 1pm - meet the bloggers!
When my Mom was staying with us while there house was being worked on, she commented on how I wasn’t knitting. Crazy - not like there is a shortage of yarn in my house! - but I just didn’t seem to have it in me. But I packed yarn and needles when we went to Germany, and while sitting at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich, watching Mike enjoy his mass of beer, I cast on for my Fruit Loop Socks. I finished the first one on the train on the way to the airport to fly home, after working on it in Salzburg, Berchtesgaden, more in Munich, Wurzburg, Rothenberg, and Havert. I immediately cast on for number two while I was still on the train headed towards Amsterdam. I worked on it for most of the flight home, and off and on the rest of this week.
