Photos...I hope

Hot bear on bear action!!

Clapotis; the beginning. The yarn over holes are scaring me a bit.

Is EVERYONE having blogger photo issues?

Clapotis!!!

So I started Clapotis and I'm loving it. I remember looking at the pattern on Knitty.com and feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the "tbl's" and "pbl's" (see previous blog for entry on pbl's). But now that I have it started, it is going very well and is VERY easy to master. Sadly I can't upload any photos because my server is going in and out. But I'll do that at home over the weekend.

On that note, I have Spring fever and I want to leave work.
More to follow

Update

I am happy to report that I have taught myself to pfb with the help of a little online tutorial.
It does hurt your hand a bit...

Improvements

Okay the weather is getting better. I actually wore cropped pants today and NO SOCKS!

I got new windshield wipers on my car...that's a BIG improvement, just ask Elizabeth.

I think I am over my knitting rut...I finished the linen print scarf last night, but really didn't like the fringe embellishment in the pattern; I'm now trying to remove the crochet slip stitch I used to "install" it onto the scarf. I think I am going to go fringe-less

But now I want to start Clapotis in the Silk Garden Light I purchased from Webs...but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to pfb. No it isn't a peanut butter fluff sandwich; its purl into the front and back. Regardless of how many times I tried last night, I could not get it. I need a remedial stitch lesson. So I can't start Clapotis just yet, but maybe will try to finish one of gram's socks since her birthday is 3 weeks away. I'm feeling less anxious about class starting on Saturday especially since Wendy and I are planning to hit the Stone afterwards.

And, finally, Opening Day is approaching. Dad and I make our annual pilgrimage to the ballpark on Monday to see the Fightin Phils take on St Louis. I am SO happy for baseball to be starting...it makes me really believe that summer (and the weddings) are not far behind and then will be over with.

Pathetic Daffodils

Okay...for the love of God I need Spring to come. I have a major case of the doldrums and my poor Daffodils, which typically are my favorite spring flower, look so sad out there in my barren, nasty front yard. And yesterday, it was very cold and rainy...like fall. All I wanted to do was cozy up in front of the fire...instead I discovered a new mecca...Wegmans.

Money, Heather and I ventured to Jersey to shop at the grocery store to end all grocery stores...Wegmans. Now we know Wegmans from our days in upsate New York, and we were thrilled when the family owned chain finally made its way to the Delaware Valley. The place was MOBBED...even in the pouring rain. After two and a half hours and filling three carts (one for each of us, not three on my own!!!), we made it out of there alive...dreaming of all the yummy's we would be making in the next few weeks. This place has it all...unbelievable produce, an international foods section including British and Irish specialties...not just the typical Indian, Mediterrean and Asian delights you can get at most markets. I picked up some English Mustard for my brother in law Mike's birthday and fantasized about an international food expo at my house. Then there was the "lotion and potions" section...including aveda, kiss my face and about 7 million other varieties of stuff. I wanted to lather it all over me in the middle of the aisle. Anyway...Wegman's is the BOMB---Trader Joes, Fresh Fields and your favorite baseline grocery store all in one. If anyone EVER wants to journey the 20 miles to Moorestown with me, I'll drive.

Finally, I'm in a knitting RUT. I hate everything I'm working on. I hate the feel of yarn between my fingers. I hate thinking about knitting. There I feel better. Let me keep working on the stupid twisty turns before I throw something through a windown. Someone HELP ME GET OUT OF THE RUT!!!!! I'm trying with the Yarn Harlot's new book...but it isn't quite working. I ordered some yarn from Elann for my first smaller size cardi for summer. It was a disaster and will be sold immediately on ebay. I can't even complete a stupid herringbone stitch patter in two colors correctly. I'm a serious messy pants when it comes to yarn these days.
The sensai needs rest.

Wendy, we are drinking after "class" Saturday.

Returns

T and I are back from our mini break in Cape Cod. We lament regularly the need to support ourselves financially and thus, have to come to work every day instead of spending the days knitting; which is what we really want to be doing.

We even scoped out a place for our yarn shop in Cape Cod; a perfect little space located in Christmas Tree Plaze, snuggled between Trader Joes and Yankee Candle. Something tells me we might hit some good traffic there...

Anyway, on our drive back, Trish and I got to reminiscing about our knitting history. We were listening to "Cast On" and then decided to tell our own sweater stories, mostly centered around our impeccable taste that happens to be strangely similar and thus, we like to knit the same sweaters. First on our list was the Koigu sweater.

This sweater was truly a labor of love. Lots and lots of Koigu...hours spent pondering colorways and combos with Grace and Courtney on the floor at Rosie's. The pattern is from Vogue Knittings anniversary issue a few years back. T and I knitted this sweater three years ago, as we took them to New Orleans with us and knitted on the plane, in the hotel etc. The tiny needles, the monotony of knitting knit stitch after knit stitch (the sweater was knit in the round until the arm holes), worrying about having enough yarn, almost knocking someone out at the Mannings booth at Sheep and Wool for that one skein of P310 that I felt I needed to finish, the countless pattern changes as I have short arms, pointy shoulders and a bigger bust...all of it came together...eventually...for both of us. The sweater also brought Trish and I back together...we had a falling out over that summer. I finished the sweater that fall...and couldn't wait to tell Trish. It was the beginning of the rebirth of our friendship---which continues today.
So I like this idea of telling stories about our knitting and how the stitches weave us together.

Anyway, this weekend, Trish and I made Baby Bobbi Bears; hers for soon to be niece Nora and mine for my favorite knitting muse, Julianna. Short of doing the eyes and nose, we completed them over the weekend and decided we were NEVER knitting with Blue Sky Cotton again as the cramps ruptured through our hands and fingers.

So photos of the Koigu sweaters, bears and our newest projects will follow this weekend.
Next week starts the Folk Shawls Knit A Long at Loop...I'm anxious about the Lace already.

Someone, hold me and tell me everything will be all right.

Arrived

Safely on Cape Cod after an uneventful trip. Maggie and Luther's five day love fest has begun...they slept about 2 hours each and were desparate to be reunited.
I awoke at 630 with Luther on my head and Maggie on my feet.

So let the knitting, sleeping and reading begin...

TGFWW

Tonight I tried on my dress for E's wedding and I'm happy to report the following

1) IT FITS! The only reason it fits is because of Weight Watchers. 30 pounds down!

2) IT IS GORGEOUS--the color, the cut, the material...GORGEOUS

3) I'm relieved...so darned relieved.

4) I didn't binge after trying the dress on though the temptation for a burger was quite strong

5) I'm actually excited about being a bridesmaid!!!

Its BALMY

Spring has sprung...at least for a few days. It is so gorgeous out.
I went to the flower show last night which cemented my need for blooming bulbs and fragrant breezes. Today we have a doggie date at Aunt Jane's. The pups don't even know what they are in for as they snooze away on the couch. I have made a new window seat in the downstairs livingroom which Mag is taking quite nicely too. I'll attach photos of the doggie party, flower show and the like later.

So last week while hanging at LOOP, I got very jealous of everyone's knitting journals/bibles.
I guess I thought that while blogging, I was creating my own virtual reality knitting journal. But in retrospect, I'm longing for something tangible that I can bring with me to yarn shops and bring out like the red badge of courage...I conquered this and I struggled with that, but it is done. So last night, I dragged Allison Kelsey into the Hello Kitty Palace next door to Penang and bought a fabu Chococat notebook (designed like a steno pad that is left handed friendly)...but now I don't know where to begin...readers...help...PS in the park tomorrow we will discuss.
That's the other thing I'm excited about! SUNDAY KNITTING IN THE PARK! I guess I am coming out of hybernation.

PS Congrats to my sister's pal Sarah on your pregnancy! Sarah is the bomb and will be a great mommy. Allie, you will be an awesome Auntie Bach. It is a great role to play, trust me.


And finally Jury Duty was the best. Clearly I wasn't picked. I was brought in to a pool of 40 for a criminal trial and as we walked to the courtroom, we were stopped and dismissed. It was 1045. And my day off began...
I can't wait to do Jury Duty again.

Oscar blog...

Is now done and below...Happy Adoption Anniversary to Maggie! One year ago today you became my baby beagle girl!
We love you Miss Magpie!




Now please, stop eating the remote controls.

Christina's Oscar Fashion Review

Yes, another awards show = another fashion review.
My new name is Christinacris (ie ludacris).


The WHAT landed on my shoulder/thank god I'm in a aisle seat award:
Charlize Theron




Sweetie, you are gorgeous.
Why must you invoke the 1980's style GIANT BOW and of all places, on your shoulder?

Plus, I think you have over tanned/glowed again.
















Worst Dressed Couple: Paul Giamatti and wife (?)
I can't even write about this I am so appalled? What is this the White Trash Oscars?

Where did she get that top? Ross ? Marshalls?
And what is with the color scheme?
And Paul, you look like ass with the facial hair. I know it is for a role, but lord, comb it!















Runner up: Phillip Seymour Hoffman and companion
OYE VEGH!





















The I'm a canary with bad lipstick award: Michelle Williams
Even though every other fashionista is saying Michelle was fierce in this dress, Christinacris is going to disagree. Michelle is WAY TO PASTY to wear this color. As a lifetime member as iampasty.com, I can advise michelle on better color options. The lipstick and hair are a disaster too.























The HOOTERS award to none other than Dolly Parton


How does Dolly stay upright? She is SO tiny everywhere else but...well you know where.


















The WORST use of cropped pants at a formal awards ceremony: Lauren Hutton



I'm not sure WHAT is happening here but the WHOLE THING is a BIG DISASTER!

What is with the little pompom's at the hem?
And the bag? around the waist?

OYE!











The I'm a skinny ghost award: Nicole Kidman

Is she really there? I'm not sure I can see her!!!!
HER DRESS IS THE SAME COLOR AS HER SKIN! Another candidate for IAMPASTY.com















The separation has made me skinny award: Hilary Swank

Not only is the photo small...but I swear the girl has had a rib or 12 removed!
Reconcile with Chad!!!!






The Goddess Award: Uma Thurman

Note to Nicole, this is how you where light colors!
UMA IS AMAZING!


















Most improved (while pregnant): Rachel Weisz


Please see my Golden Globe Blog from Jan archives for real vision of just how far Ms Weisz has come! BRAVA!















The put down the BEDAZZLER award: Reese Witherspoon

The top of the dress is lovely. The bottom is one big mess.
Reese is also a bit too pasty(do I sense a theme) for this color

















Best Dressed Men (ie a sandwich I would like to be in) George and Jake



Y



U


M


!








Best dressed females: A Trifecta of Gorgeousness, Jessica Alba, Salma Hayek and Keira Knightly
























Ms Alba hits my best dressed two award shows in a row. The gold is magnifique, the lace pattern delicate. Party hair, nice glow...the whole package.
I just love the color of Kiera's dress and her "smokey eyes."
And then, there is Miss Salma Hayek. Perfect color to highlight you dark hair. Fits beautifully! A++++


All in all, I found the fashion kind of drab and dull. I say, bring back Bjork!

PS

NO MORE ANGORA! If I pick up angora, tell me to put it down.
I can't STAND to get it up my nose!
NO MORE ANGORA!~

The Blahs

I'm ready for spring.
I'm tired of the feeling of mohair itching my neck as I pull it tighter and tighter to keep out the cold March winds. Winter is holding on tight here in Philly. I remember my first Spring in Philly--it was so mild all of March. It was glorious. I can recall watching the NCAA tourney with my windows open in Grad "B", a cold Yuengling in my hand and cheers for the Quakers at the top of my voice. Those were good times...

Anyway, I have the post Olympics knitting blues. I hate everything I'm working on. I messed up my landscape shawl (seed stitch section, of course!) and really, WHY DO I THINK THAT I CAN CONQUER MY INABILITY TO KNIT LACE? I browsed through all my back Interweave's and Vogue Knitting magazines last weekend, trying to find something that "spoke" to me to wear for the weddings. I had finally decided on a gorgeous Trellis Lace Pattern from Vogue and then, before buying yarn, decided to swatch on some other stash I had and see if I could master the pattern. Let me just say that in four patterns rows, I lost 6 +++ stitches. So I hate yo's and sk2psso BLAH BLAH BLAH.
I'm back to plan a; mom and I will pick out material and she will SEW me something.
My dress has arrived. And on that note, this week's weight loss total; 22 pounds.
Maybe I'll actually be looking forward to the fittings...

Insomnia News Update

I couldnt even TRY to go back to sleep this am without getting up and writing this blog.
Tonight on Insomniac Music Theater, while watching ABC's World News Now, there was a fabu story about the strangest street names in the US...I've decided I'm moving to...




Located in lovely Traverse City, Michigan. Other nominees included, "Divorce Ct," and "Farfrompoopen Dr," which while on the high fiber weight watchers lifestyle change, I am not.
Now perhaps I can TRY to go back to sleep.

A letter to Craig

Thanks so much for your sale yesterday. I'm so glad I could help pay your rent!
So here is what is on the launch pad for new projects as I have finished the bear and will be done with Sursa Wrap this evening (it's being bound off, but is like a million stitches now and I couldn't feel my left hand by 1030 last night so I had to stop; photos to follow tomorrow).


So first up, and inspried by Wendy's success, The Twisty Turn Wrap from Wrap Style

I'm going to knit it in Karabella's Soft Tweed; I picked out a soft pink color that will be perfect for those Spring evenings when it's still a bit chilly. I've already signed Wendy on to help with construction.

Project #2 The Cavendish Throw from Simply Noro

I picked out a gorgeous colorway of silk garden (greens and blues) and a coordinating Cash Iroha to through in rnadom rows of a solid color.

Project 3 Allison Scarf in Annie Blatt Angora.

A very successful shopping day I must say.

More to follow

A Beary Good Finish

It was a no armed, no eyed Baby Bobbi Bear

And then there was an arm...

YEAH it's done! With eyes and a nose!!!

Yellow roses for the Gold Medal Winning Performance

(actually they were from Mom and Dad for Valentine's Day)

Here's me, posing with Mr Chocolate.

More snow...more bear...more dogs!

Blogger was pissed at me yesterday when I was trying to post photos, so I figured I'd just do it today at work where I have a T1 line and time to kill before knitting...I mean care coordination rounds.

Molls and I have a moment as we watch it snow

Dad's new Tiger socks; aren't they FETCHING!

The foot of snow gathered on my patio table

The backyard

This was the view looking out my back door

Blogger continues to be pissy about adding more photos to this post, so I'll have to write another one for the updated bear photos.

Don't forget to check out

knittingolympicsteamphilly.blogspot.com

Our first (and last?) snow storm of '06

Honestly, I thought this one was going to be a bust when Trish left last night at 930 and there was barely a coating on the ground. I thought, as usual, the doppler 12000 had lied to us and said Nor'easter developing off the coast had petered out to a small nuisance storm.

I was wrong. I have about one foot of snow in my backyard. It was so gorgeous this morning as Maggie and Molly stepped out to greet the morning and were shocked by the cold white stuff that came up to their bellies.

The power of moguls

Dateline: Day 2 of Olympic Knitting
Philadelphia, PA


Trish and I got together again last night to encourage ourselves and our projects along.
I am happy to report that Baby Bobbi Bear is coming along much better on size 5 needles (you read right, SIZE 5!). Trish also is making splendid progress on her Koigu baby sweater. We decided that watching Moguls was very motivating. We got some "good air" as we sat on the couch knitting feverishly.

Here is our progress: This is baby bear's butt


Baby Bear's Body


























I stopped here for the evening with the body and one leg of baby bear done. Trish is moving along at a feverish pace; she'll be finished with the back of that sweater in NO TIME.

I do, by the way, hate NBC's broadcasting of the Olympics. There are things going on LIVE right now in Torino, but we have to wait until 3pm to see their over edited pretty versions of prelim rounds and until primetime to see any medal performances. Sadly, while watching winter storm coverage on MSNBC, they ran today's results; so I already know the BODE was a bunch of HYPE!

See next blog for my snow footage...

Knitting Olympics Kick Off Party

Some of Team Philly gathered at the Bach house last night for a rocking, weight watchers friendle kick off party.

Here we are with our projects:

Trish is making a cute little baby sweater with alternating multi and solid Koigu.

It is on TEENY TINY little needles, so even though the project is small, Trish has a LOT of knitting to do

Team Baby Bobbi Bear; Elizabeth, Heather, Me and Maggie. The bears are easy enough, but about two inches into it, I realized mine was REALLY loose and there was no way stuffing wasn't going to fly out of it. I ripped it out and swatched again and am now contemplating going down to a size 5 from a size 9! Oye!

Wendy and her baby blanket. Wendy is a Speed Knitter; she already finished the first color of the blanket last night!

Heather got a bit angry when she realized she started knitting backwards in the round AND her bear was also coming out very loose. She stepped away from the knitting at this point.

I got some coaching from Team Philly Coach/Disabled Knitter Allison regarding my guage!

All and all, it was a somewhat successful knitting evening (mostly for Wendy). The ceremonies themselves were somewhat lame, my favorite part being the ski jumper and the armani clad Italian Olympic team. Will keep posting on the progress of the bears.