Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Lets finish, shall we??

My niece turned 7 yesterday, I called her to wish her a Happy Birthday. She and her family were on the way to dinner, and I asked her where she was going.

Me: Where are you going to eat for your Birthday?
Niece: CPK
Me: CPK???
Niece: (insert an annoyed and disbelief voice) California Pizza Kitchen Aunt Lisa!
Me: Oh yeah, CPK.

Who knew my 7 year old niece was so hip to us acronyms?? Hopefully she will look hip when I get this sweater all sewn up. I need to get on it because I think the hemmed neck and button bands that I am planning are going to take some concentration to look good.

I hope she will like the hidden pink on the hem facing and besides the pink, I added a little surprise in the hem to show you later.


And speaking of finishing, I need to get further along on this very colorful project. Remember the Webs purchase? Well this is where that purchase resides in my living room, a nice DEEP lined basket. I have 5 tiers of the blanket done, but I was hoping to have it complete by Stitches West so that I could show Kathy what became of all the yarn she shipped to me.

Pictures are going to have to do for now. I am going to be setting a deadline for myself on this project, if not, then this will linger for years I am afraid. Plus, who wants to knit a blanket in a California summer?

Speaking of Stitches West, I will be there Thursday through Sunday. I am looking forward to seeing people that I have not seen for awhile (Kristi and Jeni especially) and I hope to meet new knitters and create new friendships. So if you see me, I don't see you, make sure you say hello!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Black Pearl

I was inspired by my friend Nathania's new fingerless mitts and decided that I wanted to knit a quick useful project for me. And so I purchased a hank of Dream in Color's Smooshy in the Black Pearl colorway and started right away. Cast on 44 stitches and did a 2x2 rib pattern until they were as long as I wanted them before starting the thumb gusset.


Pattern: Improvised from about 3 other patterns
Materials: Dream In Color Smooshy
Colorway: Black Pearl
Needles: US 6/4.0mm
Start Date: February 15, 2009
Finish Date: February 20, 2009

I took these pictures with my new camera and I am really impressed with the noticeable difference in the quality of my photos with the Canon as opposed to my other digital camera. Don't get me wrong, my other camera did a good job and will continue to be used for quick snap shots, but I just have to say that I love love love my new camera. I think I will have to give it a name....any suggestions? And maybe it is not a her, maybe it is a him? Let me know what you think, I will give yarn to the best suggestion so leave me a comment.

And I will leave you with this picture of Sensei and Mugsy while you are thinking of a name for my camera. This is Mugsy's favorite place to lay down, he is a cuddlier. Mugsy sure loves his daddy!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

New equipment = LOVE

This just arrived today for me. I have been shopping for a DSLR for a little while, asking experienced photographers like Bill Walker for advice and this is what I decided on...

Another piece of technology that I recently obtained is my new iPod Nano. Sensei actually bought me this for my birthday back in December and I just have not blogged about it. Under the iPod is the half of a pair of fingerless mitts that I am currently knitting for myself. I am using Dream In Color-Black Pearl doing a 2x2 ribbing.
And these are the first pictures that I took with my new camera...

My African violet that sits on my desk, I happen to really love African violets. I actually love plants that flower. You can see the fuzzy detail on the leaves so clearly, the new camera is sooo easy to use, I love it.


My favorite flowering plant? Orchids! This is the orchid that sits on the cabinet behind me in my cubical. This was given to me by one of my co-workers a few days ago. Her mom grows them and it was time to split them and re-pot so she had an abundance and shared with all of us.

As a side note, none of the photos that I took with the new camera were retouched.

I am desperately trying to finish up a couple of things that are so close to show you new finished projects. I need to hurry, Stitches West is coming and nothing will get done during that time.

Thursday, February 05, 2009

25 Random Things

This meme has been going around Facebook and I was tagged there, so I thought I would post it here too. Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.


1. When I entered High School, there were 3 things I wanted to complete, I did 2 out of the three, I was a cheerleader all four years and I was the yearbook editor 2 years in a row.

2. I miss seeing my brothers and their families, I wish we all lived closer.

3. I wanted to be married and have 4 kids after high school, I am unmarried and I have no kids.

4. I was named after a soap opera character from As The World Turns, if I as a boy, I would have been named Dirk (a character in a book my mom was reading when she was pregnant with me.)

5. I have been trying to get pregnant for 2 years now, frustrating!

6. I have never lived out side the state of California

7. I moved 13 times in 10 years. My best friends started writing my address and phone number in pencil after the 4th move.

8. Red is my favorite color and green is a very close second. I hate the color orange, I wore a bit to much of it between 1987 - 1990.

9. I installed my own ceiling fan and I installed my grandmothers garbage disposal.

10. I have been pulled over for speeding, no seat belt and or running a red light about 10 time total, I have only gotten 2 tickets thanks to my brother Todd being a police officer, his business card is magic!

11. I have always thought my hair was my strength.

12. I miss my father, I miss him very much.

13. I almost hooked up with a guy after lots of drinking in a bar only to find out after chatting a while that we were cousins....that was strange!

14. I taught myself how to knit while recovering from a surgery.

15. Out of all my jobs I have ever had, waiting tables was actually my favorite thing. Weird, I know.

16. Ok, this is odd, but it is random....Denise Terry and I both lived in a house on Hillcrest Dr in Selma (not at the same time) and we both dated the same guy from Kingsburg (not at the same time either, well at least I don't think so, hahahaha)

17. I love to bake and I think I am pretty good at it too.

18. I have had 4 surgeries in my lifetime.

19. I have been close to death more than once.

20. I regret not going to my Senior Prom. I went to a frat party at Fresno State with my friend from Reedley.

21. There is only one person in my life, that if she needed me to help her bury a body I would, she knows who she is :)

22. I play golf and I like it. I started to golf because of a man, not a great reason, but I liked it and kept playing long after he was gone!

23. Gina (Alves) Luberto and I were skiing in Sierra Summit and ran into Tim Dodd and Daniel Nulick, we started to ski down a run and there was an accident and I split Tim Dodds forehead open. I hear he still has a scar from that day. The entire story is quite good, ask me sometime.

24. I am rekindling my love of photography.

25. I sure there are much more random things about me, but it is late and I am tired, so just ask me what ever you want, I will probably tell you.

I have been tagged several times, if you are reading this, consider yourself tagged.