Nothing clever to say

So, I've seen tatted jewelry before.  A lot of that is hit or miss.  Some of it can be glorious, but it can be rancidly kitschy, too.  (and I like kitschy)

But the first time I saw knitted/crocheted wire, my mind immediately jumped to tatting.  I didn't know how to shuttle tat, but it would be easy to do it with a needle.  That was a couple of years ago, and since I never really got into wire (well, until recently--I may or may not have spent an hour of what should have been study time downloading free patterns from beadwork's website) it's never been more than a fleeting fancy.


BUT SOMEONE FINALLY DID IT! 

.... yes, I am excited enough about it to type in all caps.  I would get copper wire to practice in first.  I'm on a freezing spend, and I don't have the car today, otherwise I would be at the craft store right now.

updates

I'm giving up on the one tatted doily for now--okay, well, pausing.  This is what it looked like, just prior to me finishing it.  I've decided that the border I originally had planned won't work the way I put the picots in--I should have just done in the center of each chain, rather than two.  Theoretically, I could move the picots (yes, I'm like that); however, I may have found a border that I like just as much, if not more.  I just need to get it from the library.

(The picture is less than ideal, but I'm just happy it's in focus)

I went to my friend's birthday party this weekend.  I made her stitch markers!  They're a lot of fun to make.  No pictures of those.  I've decided I have a lot of respect for the folks who make them for pay.  They're a lot of work, and unless I got a lot faster, they're not worth it.  But I'm proud of what I made for her.

Also, because I can, I'll post my little christmas tree.  I'm proud of it.  I got a little strand of lights for it and everything!  It is very tiny.  And very bright.

note to self

I have the hardest time keeping track of books that interest me.

I collect books, like other people collect yarn.  I love my university's library.  If it weren't for big libraries like that... well, let's just say that I would be superbroke.  This applies not only to pattern books, but to any kind of books.  I'm still vaguely distressed I never got up to #100 in the babysitter's club (though I'll bet it's up to a bajillion by now--and by the time they came out 100, I was way WAY too old).  Most people have SABLE?  I've got AABLE - articles acquired beyond life expectancy.  I've got, right now, 649 articles in my dissertation folder.  If it weren't for computers--I don't think I'd have room for that much paper.  That's 1.3 gigs of pdf's my friends.

On that note, I think that if I had any book on sock knitting, I would want The Official Toe-up Sock Book.  Since I like to play fast and loose with my patterns, things I can try on as I go are good.  To the trend, I also want Custom Knits.  I have far more patterns that I will ever knit (already!) and Ravelry makes that even worse.  And I of course gravitate to the lacy, complex, fine knitting.  But those would be useful things to add to my somewhat accelectic collection, I think.

Tummy woes

So, I made the garlic soup last night.  It was glorious, though not as pretty as Smitten Kitten's.

M thought it was far too garlicy, which is sad.  I did, more or less, follow the instructions.  I may have added a cup of cream instead of a half.  AND, I used the last of the goose stock (instead of chicken).  Sad, but tastey.  Can't wait for more goose next year--too bad it's so expensive.  I was afraid that the goose would be overpowering (it was a little) but the garlic builds up as you eat it.  The end result was a thick soup that was almost a fondue--I ate three bowls and half a loaf of bread.  This would be great as an appetizer to a steak or similar meal, I think.

I kind of stink.

The one weird thing is that it seemed to have irritated the back of my throat.  I'm not sure if I had a dry throat or what--my nose has been really dry from all the cold, maybe my sinuses are messed up.  I hope to all goodness I'm not developing a garlic allergy.  My--digestive system, shall we say--is somewhat sensitive, and seems to be acting up today.  I'm not sure if it was the less than healthy food I've been eating for dinner (possibly combined with the high fiber lunches I've been having to kind of stave that off) or what.  I'm afraid that it may have been irritated by the garlic, if it was irritating my throat.  In other words, if you're on a bland diet--I don't think this counts.

Crafty goodness

So, I should really post pictures.  And one day I will have the time to include links.

I may be making my own pattern, based on Knitty's broad street mittens.  I'm sure similar items exist out there, but I haven't seen it, so except for the mitten outline, I'm pretty much making it up as I go.  We shall see.  Once I get past the thumb gusset, I will post pictures.

In other news, I need piggy stitch markers.  I can't go out tonight, but maybe tomorrow...

New Year's Resolutions

This is highly unusual for me. First to post to my blog, like any other fool who got one and yet never did anything with it. Second to post something of a relatively personal nature. Third to actually do serious New Year Resolutions. Such is life.

I'm going to attempt to record my efforts here, which will hopefully lead to more knitterly posts. Part of the resolutions? No, but what I hope to part of a larger more positive turn around in my life.

So the resolutions themselves:
1 - Craft more. Specifically, knit one large project, and improve my crochet and tatting skills. Sewing is on the horizon. Theoretically, if I am to hold myself responsible via the blog, I will post them here.

2 - Exercise twice a week. Not because I am fat in the traditional sense (no matter how little that means) but because I am patently unhealthy. Can't walk up a flight of stairs without being winded--that's bad. Twice a week is not so much, and while I hope to improve upon that, I think that I can at the very least keep myself to twice a week.

3 - One new recipe a week; one repeat a month. Too much from my head, not enough tried and true. Repeats lead to additions to the repertoire, always good.

4 - Be more organized. This means planning meals, and keeping better track of my life.

Towards those goals:
I exercized today! Quite proud of myself, using our little apartment gym. Was on the eliptical for about 25 minutes. My heart rate was about 160 (not that I really know what that means). Burned 200 calories exactly. I hit the endorphins around minute 10.

Husband and I had the first of what should turn out to be weekly 'family planning' meetings. Right now we're attempting to cook out of the freezer. He is actually making sausagey stuff tomorrow, quite exciting. I'll be making soup from a recipe, as well as shrimp kabobs I make up (this was also supposed to be from a recipe, but I can't find anything I like). We may be going out of town Friday, so nothing planned for then or the weekend.

I'm hoping to post the shrimp thing so I can remember it. I think I shall marinate, then put a rub on, so I can have spices, but not worry about dripping in the oven. Only problem will be possibly them drying out; however, I don't really find shrimp to be well suited to the grill in any case.