Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful

Haircut
Originally uploaded by e_to_the_m.
Click the mosaic for a larger image.

E wanted some new hair for the new season. Really she was tired of having it brushed...

Deep Fried Book

My friend Drew is doing some interesting things with books.

Sculptor and conceptual artist John LaFalce (Buffalo, NY) and Drew Luan Matott set out to create an edition of altered books that were battered and deep fried, providing a commentary on America’s obsession with an unhealthy lifestyle, unstable foreign policy and blatant disregard for intellectualism. The deep fried books range in topic from American foreign policy, American dietary recommendations and science encyclopedia.

**Edit
I'm changing the date on this post (it's from the future!!) to move it up. In the comments Drew writes that they will be at BluSeed Studio's, Saranac Lake, NY Thursday, June 21, then in Buffalo in September and back to Chicago in October.

Send 'em some books if you've got 'em.
Drew Luan Matott
Center For Book & Paper Arts
1104 S. Wabash, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60605

*sigh*
I miss the West.

Ewwwwwwwww

This is like a scene from some bad horror film.

My name is...Laranjinho

My name is...Laranjinho
Originally uploaded by sifis.

How cute is this? I have a new friend, it's Little Orange!

Finished!

I completed my first Jaywalker this weekend but unfortunately I left it over at the Double R Ranch so I don't have a picture for you.

I made a deal with myself that I was not allowed to cast on for the second jaywalker until I finished the socks for E's teacher. Well I finished the second sock last night!

Pattern: Standard cuff down 72 stitch sock, heel flap, wedge toe
Yarn: Online Not So Winter
Color: 881
Source: My Secret Pal (9)
Needles: US1, aluminum
Time to complete: The first sock took about 6 weeks; the second sock took about 4 days.

Here are some gratuitous sock shots:

The toe


I also just cast on Monica for E; she is super excited. I'm changing it a bit by knitting in the round so I don't have to purl.

Guess what time it is?

Lilac time! The best two days of spring. OK I may be exaggerating but they're not around for long and they feel especially special this year.

One last thing. Go. See. Covet.

Be There or Be □

Let's knit!
When: Sunday, May 20 from 2:30 - 4:00
Where: Viva Esporesso
Why: Seriously? Because you love me and you love to knit.

Jeans That Fit! An Octopus & A Jaywalker. Emily Plays Football?

I love True Jeans! I placed my order and a couple of days later (I only think it was a couple of days because of the weekend, they're actually quite fast) received an email from customer service asking me to contact them. It turns out that an actual live person reviews your order before they fill it and ship it out. The customer service rep was concerned that the jeans I chose would fit me quite like I wanted them to and made an alternate suggestion. It wasn't an upsell scheme, the recommended jeans only cost $5 more than the ones I ordered and she took the time to explain why she was making the recommendation. I should also mention that the woman with whom I spoke was awesome! She was engaging and funny (high-larious actually) and friendly. Best of all, she knows her stuff.
That was Tuesday and my jeans arrived in VT yesterday. That's only 2 days! The best part? These jeans fit like they were made for me (midrise, snug, bootcut). I have never worn a more comfortable pair of jeans and they make me feel so good. I ordered my pair in the dark blue rinse and am totally going to order them in the nocturne rinse as well. Plus the rep. told me that they will be carrying a straight leg jean from the same company within the next couple of weeks, I'll probably order those too.


Know what else came yesterday?

My necklace from Crowded Teeth! I totally love it and am wearing it right now (with my new jeans).



My Jaywalker, knit in Yarntini from the pureknits sock yarn club is coming along nicely. This is a pic from Sunday, now I'm on the toe shaping for the first sock. I love the yarn, I love the pattern, I don't want to knit anything else.


No I'm not part of the starting lineup.

Rusted Root has to be frogged. The. Whole. Thing. The bust is good, not too tight, not too loose. The sleeve however are GIGANTIC. I look like I'm trying to use old winter hats for epaulets. I will cast on again with the same number of stitches but assign more of the stitches to the chest/back and less to the sleeve. Less stitches on the sleeve means it won't be quite as big and more on the chest/back means less rows before I reach the desired bust circumference so the sleeve will also be shorter.
I can't do it right now, first I need some time to grieve the loss of all that knitting.


Dang, I think that's it for my update. After I finish my first Jaywalker I am not allowed to cast on for the second until I finish my second sock for E's teacher. We'll see if I keep that deal.

Win-Win

Pssst. Want to help find a cure for MS? Want a chance to win awesome knitting prizes? Of course you do. Go here.

Jeans That Fit?

I'll start with the best part:
Me, pantless, in my office, hoping no one walks in, trying to measure my ass with a paper tape measure. Good thing there aren't hidden cameras at work.

How did I get into this situation? Blame Grumperina. Jeans that fit are priceless, right? Well I just spent more on a pair of jeans than my last whole outfit so we'll see. I may have to send them back before I try them on. I'll let you know how it all turns out. And I swear I'll stop shopping at work. Damn.

Now Hear This

I'M ALL DONE WITH MY CLASSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A hem. No more school for me (until Fall). I was so excited yesterday that I was going to make big plans. E was at her dad's so I thought about a little Okami, maybe some dinner with Ron, maybe a drink with Misa, definitely a lot of knitting. Want to know how I celebrated? I fell asleep at 6pm. Yep, didn't even get to eat dinner, just passed out. Today I feel so human; I really needed that 13 hours of sleep. Oh well, I have all summer to celebrate.

Will Knit For Tattoos

I am not alone.
Originally uploaded by flint knits.

Wow. These peeps are committed to their art.

Stoneking knitted this study in cuteness. I'm so taken by it I can't even type. Go over to her blog to see more pictures and tell her how awesome shi is (and how cute her neice is).

Update (finally)!

Wow, I have a lot of pics to share here. First, the. non-knitting news. I went to go see They Might Be Giants and had a blast! I could blather on and on about it but Stoneking did a great job over at her blog (even if she did expose me in all my nerdly glory) and Bill also has a pretty sweet post. Apple has finally agreed to replace my iMac. They don't make mine anymore so I was upgraded to an Intel machine with all the same junk as my current computer (17" screen, 1GB RAM, 250GB hard drive, etc.). I always regretted not buying the 20" so I asked if I could upgrade and pay the diff. I can and I am. I'm also getting the better graphics card. So, my experience wasn't fun and I don't think it should have been so hard to get a replacement computer but I am so excited at the prospect of a shiny new iMac that I can't help it.

On to knitting............


I ordered those a while ago but they were on backorder. When they showed up it was a total surprise. They're pretty big; I included a penny for scale. Purchased from patternworks.


I joined the PureKnits Yarntini sock yarn club a couple of months ago and my first package arrived Friday! Included is a Yarntini self-stripe colorway called "pure breeze," a beautiful handmade bag from misocrafty, lip balm (also called pure breeze) that smells like the beach (think tanning oil and tropical drinks, not empty beer cans and sun-baked seaweed), stitch markers from Dress Up Your Knitting, a sample of Soak and Cool Socks Warm Feet. *whew* I've decided that I will finally cast on a pair of Jaywalkers but first I have some WIPs to finish up.



I just put the sleeve stitches of Rusted Root on scrap yarn! It seemed like it took forever (I swear I'm going on a diet so I can finish my knits faster!). It's actually going quite fast, I'm just being impatient. I'm excited about knitting top down, I don't have to remember what I did on one side so I can duplicate it on the other. If I have enough yarn I'll lengthen it because once it goes over my bewbs it'll be pretty short in the front. If I don't have enough yarn (or probably even if I do) I'll wear a long tank underneath.



Here's the back of the Central Park Hoodie knit in Jo Sharp Silk Road DK Tweed. I haven't been knitting it lately because I fell in love with Rusted Root.


The first sock is done for Elah's teacher. It's Online sock yarn I received from my Secret Pal 9. I actually finished this one about 6 weeks ago but never took a picture. I need to get the other one done because school is done soon. The teacher has big feet (for someone her height), this is a 72 stitch sock.


One more sock that needs a mate. This one has a short row heel and a star toe. The yarn is Lorna's Laces, gifted to me when I did Yarn Aboard.


Watch out, it's a FO! Chek me out, I'm all cammo. Simple stockinette sock with garter short row toe and heel made with Panda Cotton.

Pattern: My own.
Yarn: 2 balls, Crystal Palace Panda Cotton (they have a similar yarn coming out his fall)
Colors: Fall herbs
Needles: Inox Grey US 1 crics for the stockinette and Addi Turbo US 0 for the ribbing
Time to complete: I should just leave this tid bit off the list but I think that if I keep posting in with some lame answer then shame will make me a better note taker.
Details: I usually knit a 68 stitch sock but the Panda Cotton was so stretchy I only cast on 60 stitches. When I make socks like this again I'll add about 5 rows of garter to the shot row areas. These socks were the first time I used a sewn bind off for toe up socks. The bind off is great; it is nice and stretchy isn't tight at all.

Damn, I'd better get knitting so I can show ya'll some more.

Where is Emily? Brought to you by the letter F.

I know I haven't been around much but I'm fixin' to come back! My last paper of the semester, a literary analysis, based on the historical cultural norms of early Christians, of the parables of Jesus in the synoptic gospels, is almost done. It's my last assignment of the semester. What does that mean for you, dear reader? It means I'll have time to sleep and post.

Not only that, but the sun has returned to Vermont and natural light means that I will be posting some update photos this weekend. Curious? A progress shot of Central Park Hoodie, a picture of Rusted Root (my latest proj), the finished Panda Cotton socks, one completed Lorna's Laces sock, one completed sock I'm making for my daughter's teacher and, finally, the book weight. *whew*

See ya this weekend!

PS I may be in love with Apple again. Guess what's coming to my house?