Happy St. Patty's Day

So while most people are excited to celebrate Irish roots or just a brush with Ireland, the Celtic Consort and I have a second reason to celebrate every year. This is the day that we officially began as a couple. And this year is special. This year, we have been together for TEN YEARS. A whole decade! How did that happen? It seems like yesterday that we were out celebrating the wearing of the green with friends for the first time. We were also trying to keep the togetherness on the down-low. I had met Celtic Consort while dating a friend of his (who was a beeeeeeeeeep). This friend and I had a terrible breakup and he did not want me hanging out with his friends. So see.... sometimes you do have to kiss a few frogs to find a prince. :)

(p.s. despite messing with it forever, Blogger refuses to orient this pic correctly)

I need a hug...

I'm having a crap week. About the only thing that is good is the secret knitting project. But even then, I feel like I'm behind. Back to needing a hug. Maybe Knit Knite will help me smile more. After all, Stacey is bringing Girl Scout cookies.

Where oh where has my order gone?

Okay so when the winter issue of Interweave came out with the Spectrum Scarf & Tam, I HAD to do it! I mean look at it. It's gorgeous! I went out looking for the necessary colors of Kidsilk Haze and came up with four of them at Bloomin Yarns.

Now at the same time, I had been tempted by Julia's Fiddlehead Mittens. And what do you know, while looking for appropriate colors and yarns for my own pair I happened upon this site. One of the top links when I googled. Seemed very friendly and helpful in addition to having some reasonable prices.

I ordered several colors of Rowan Pure Wool for Fiddlehead in addition to my missing Kidsilk Haze. I also ordered some Kidsilk Haze for my Fiddlehead lining. I placed this order, dear blog, on January 1, 2009. January 8, I received an email confirming that the first half of my order shipped. YAY! It arrived on the 10th and I found 4 of 6 of the Pure Wool and 1 of my Kidsilk Haze colors. I did see, however, where I was charged for a Kidsilk Haze which was not included but received a quick response when I contacted the store that it would be credited on the second half of the order.

Now insert into this limbo, the fact that my credit card had to be closed due to fraudulent charges. As soon as I got things reported to the bank, I again , dear blog, contacted the yarn shop and gave them an updated number to use. I also made sure they had my phone number in case there were any issues arising from said situation.

Why is any of this relevant? Well, look, dear blog, at the date of this post. I have YET to receive the rest of my order. I was reassured as recently as February 5th, that "The backorder should ship within the next few days. I will email to confirm." I gave it a week and a half. I still have not heard anything. I'm pissed! I have not only been waiting for half of my order but I've already paid for a skein of it!!!! I can understand when things are back ordered. I can understand when things slip through. BUT CAN'T THESE PEOPLE NOT HAVE TO BE PROMPTED FOR A RESPONSE ON MY FRIGGIN' ORDER???????

Glad these projects were just for me. I'm also glad that I have more than enough knitting to fill the gap. Please note, however, I will never EVER order from there again.

On Hold

Well Postwar Mittens are on hold while I do some gifty knits. First I've started on Little Roxie Helga's Mystery Gift. I'd show you but we don't want Mom to see yet. :) Let's just say that those who HAVE seen it exclaimed over it. I knew it was nice but didn't expect that. I've also started on some Bib O' Loves. I got a rainbow of colors to start working them up. I just need buttons for closures. They will be distributed amongst all three prego ladies I know.

Second, I did my classic Babies & Bears for my cousin's first baby. Laurie did a Devan and both were totally adored.

I also did this lovely number for my mother for her birthday. It's from Luxury Yarn 101 One Skein Wonders. Silk Fountain Hood. I used 2 skeins of Debbie Bliss Pure Silk. Totally divine to work with and it didn't break the budget either.

Speaking of budgets, I skipped the Pgh Knit & Crochet Festival as the Celtic Consort is currently waiting to hear if he'll still have a job. Kind of bad form to buy a TON of yarn (including Vesper Sock) when we may need to worry about buying food. Well maybe not that bad but still a tight budget.

Now I'm back to the surprise knit....

Brightening Up Winter Greys!

Warning Sock Club Spoilers!!!!
For some odd reason, DPUTiger’s Postwar Mittens have created an obsession in me to make them. But not in the same way as everyone else. Despite the designer’s ingenuity to provide three different motifs to choose from in addition to three different colorways, two different thumbs per motif, and two different styles (pointy or blunt), giving a total of about 36 variations. I wanted something UNIQUE, so I’ve opted with a set of colors that will help chase the grey out of a Steeltown winter. Don’t get me wrong, I thought the colorways in the pattern were very pretty (the green especially). I needed more so I chose three very bright saturated tones of Baby Ull to liven things up: Cyclamen (which I keep calling raspberry), Tangerine, and Lagoon. I’ve decided that they make good trolley knitting despite being colorwork. This is because the pattern is simple and repetitive. It’s also very easy to look at my knitting and see where I am. I managed to work a few rows on the way in to work this morning. They must be nice because the woman who sat down next to me immediately said “That is gorgeous!” I like them and I think if my knitting pace keeps up, I should have a pair or most of a pair for Friday knitting.

Speaking of knitting, we had newbies come on out to see us. Katie and Katy joined us separately and we were glad to have them. They actually even seemed to like us and not be scared away. Always a good sign. Julia visited too and brought the latest installment of Vesper Sock Club. “Wanderlust” isn’t it divine? Both Laurie and I immediately thought of Leyburn. Saturday brought Spunky Club in “Twilight”. YUMMY! I really need to get spinning. I have a ton of fiber to spin up but I’m not practicing enough. Need to get at it.

Oh and my first RSC of 2009 came today. "My Blue Heaven" with a pattern from Sivia Harding which includes BEADS!!! I totally have to do them now but they need to get in line.

So all these things are driving me to finish London Calling, MS3, and Noro Moebius. Yes I’m still on the black hole of the sewn bind off for the moebius but I’m doing a chunk at a time so I don’t suddenly snap. I’m also on a schedule for MS3 to be sure it’s done on time despite my somewhat magpie like attention span. I also cast on for the first flame hat. Not much progress outside of working on the really nice cast on which Heather showed me. But I have hope and I also have a time frame that I’d like to have them for too. So once again, schedule.

Oh and I’m STILL waiting on the rest of my Fiddlehead yarn. It should be arriving shortly but at least I have Postwar to distract me.

Happy Birthday Younger Celting

Seven years ago, this trouble bubble came into the world. He has grown a bit since then but is more talkative now. Today is a bit subdued as both he and Elder Celting are grounded for their behavior this past weekend. Saturday we are doing cake and ice cream with the family. However, so that today is not a total bust, I made cupcakes for school and mint chocolate chip cookies for home. TASTY!

Now on to the knitting! In case you missed it, YC is wearing his Snowflake Saddle Hoodie. He wears it as soon as it comes out of the wash. Also any time he think I won't notice that it hasn't been washed yet. EC has been wearing his but I can't seem to get a decent shot where he's smiling.

First of all, since my moebius was lost, I started on this one. I just need to finish the sewn cast off and it's ready to wear. I'm also working on my Figgy Pudding Vesper socks on the trolley. Many admirers on the 47L. I personally can't wait to finish them just to wear them.

And I've cast on my London Calling. It's going fast so it should only be a little while.


Oh and my last color came for the Flame Hats. So I'm using Falk in black, neon orange, and burnt orange. Perfect BP colors. So once I get more done on MS3, I'm casting on. They may become my next trolley knitting project.

So I'm trying to entertain myself with our new tv to keep on knitting.

Can't Write, Knitting will Swallow Me

Okay somewhere in my deluded mind, I believed that after Xmas knitting that I would be able to breathe easy. Nope. I realized that I have a TON. OF. KNITTING. I'm still in process with Snowflake Hoodie for Elder Celting (on the hood should finish tonight). I've also got to work on my Noro moebius as I've lost the Fibonacci Moebius. :( In addition to these things, I'm working on my Figgy Pudding socks on the trolley. Plus I need to get cracking to complete the wing on MS3 for Heather. This one has a HARD deadline and it cannot be missed as it's way too important.

Now let's look at what else is going on. Elder Celting picked out this book for me as a present from Bloomin' Yarns and I lurve it! I plan on doing these socks from it. I also want to do flame hats for the 13 players of Elder Celtings soccer team, because I'm nuts like that. Not to mention, my yarn for London Calling is coming. As is the stuff for the Spectrum Tam and Scarf, plus my Fiddlehead Mittens (curse you Julia! :) ) Oh and did I mention I wanted to do my Triinu shawl for MDSW?

Can't write, knitting will swallow me.....
Can't write, knitting will swallow me.....
Can't write, knitting will swallow me.....
Can't write, knitting will swallow me.....
Can't write, knitting will swallow me.....
Can't write, knitting will swallow me.....

(p.s. pictures to come soon of all the yummy knit goodies)