What Have I Been Up To?

Schaefer Swatches!

That's what I have been up to! I am almost done! Schaefer Susan is a very generous skein and it is really feeling like I have this yarn and project FOREVER. But Alas! The end is in sight! (No pictures because it is just the same as the other... Nothing more to see - Oh right, maybe when I am finally done with it and I'll take the picture of the pile.)

On the wedding invitation front - I found the perfect paper! But they are OUT OF STOCK! DOH! I have to call the store tomorrow to find out when they can get them in. My third floor is empty so it would be a perfect place to do my wedding invitations!

On the store news - I'm working on the business plan whenever I can. And I'm getting my taxes done so I can get some down payment!!! It's just feeling like it's taking forever!!! Blah. But I want to do it right, so I'll take my time with it.

Well, on that note, I should go and work on that swatches project. Until next time, go check out the new Knitty. My friend Michelle has a pattern published in this issue!!!

Cocoa Swap Topic of the Week #4

What is your most memorable vacation? Where did you go? What made it memorable?

Well, I think every trip we went up to 1000 Islands for vacation is memorable, but the one in 2006 was the one David and I got engaged, so I guess that's the most memorable. And of course when I went to Germany to meet up with David, that was a very memorable 2 day weekend I've ever taken for sure.

I also finished the swatch for the scarf, but no pictures yet. The pattern isn't too bad, but I think I'll have to pay attention to it for a little while before I get a hang of it.

Completely random thought - I LOVE MYTHBUSTERS! Yes, I know, I am dorky.

Cocoa Swap Topic of the Week #3 & Piggy

What is the most 'random' memory you have from your childhood?

Hmmm... It's actually a dream. My first dream I ever remembered. I think I was still in grade school. The dream was that I was a ninja along with few other ones, we were stuck in this maze and trying to find something or save something, but it was dark and I can barely see. The whole dream basically was me running around looking for this "thing" with the other ninjas.

I don't know why I still remember it, but I just do.

I finished the piggy today. So excited!

Pattern - Curly the Pig by Rebecca Hatcher
Yarn Used - 1.5 skeins of Beaumont Yarn (special yarn made for me from my friend)
Needles - Option size 2
Gauge - N/A
Knit - January 19, 08 to January 27, 2008
Modifications - None.

It was a super quick knit. I think it would have been faster if I realized earlier that I can convert the pattern to knit it in the round. I really like this pattern and I'm sure I'll be making it again, for myself.

After finishing the piggy, I started stringing the beads onto Susan so I can start the Undulating Waves Scarf.

Instead of using the thread and needle method, I used one of the dental floss threader and string the beads that way. It was super easy. Soon I had this:

Isn't the yarn just pretty? I thought so. I better go swatching.

What Have I Been Up To?

So I have dramatically slow down on blogging lately. I couldn't really justified blogging when I should be doing research. But tonight, I'm taking a little time off so I can update everyone on what I'm up to and the progress of some knitting.

Last weekend, Knelley, Acambras, Costumchick, JennM and I went over to Anphoe's house for some unofficial SnB get together. We had SO MUCH FUN! We all got there around 6pm and didn't leave till 2am!!! We all brought food as well and everything was delicious!

Even long after the get together, I would still think about all the conversation we had and laugh to myself.

On the knitting front, I started knitting Lola Curly the Pig for my Cocoa Swap swapee as her "Bust the Winter Blahs Buddy". I hope she'll like it. I used the yarn my friend who's family owns a yarn mill's yarn. She gave me the yarn when I was thinking of making my own wedding gown. Of course, I didn't end up doing it so now I have 30 balls of the yarn sitting around. It turned out to be a great yarn for this project!

Actually, I've made some more progress since this picture was taken - I have finished the body while at Suzy's last night and I made the four feet today during training.

And while we are on Schaefer, I got my Schaefer Yarn payment for the two projects I made for them:

4 skeins of Andrea - 2 in Julia Child and 2 in Margo Jones, and 1 skein of Lola in green.

Aren't the color gorgeous? I will be using them for shawls, but I haven't decided on patterns yet.

Along with the payment, I got the next model knitting project as well. And I have to say I am super excited for this project ever since I got the pattern from Laura.

It's the Undulating Waves Scarf by Laura Nelkin. It has beads in it and the whole thing is just beautiful. I can't wait to start this project.

And just to finish up this post, I have some random pictures to show you:

This is Andes Peppermint Crunch chocolate. This picture is for missburrows, all you Choconots and Frenemies out there! (it's okay if you don't know what these means... But if you do, mmm.. Chocolate!) I can't get enough of these chocolate patties :)

This picture is for Archiknist. My Peru llama/alpaca hangs out with me at work. He stands on top of my monitor and is one of the things that makes me smiles when I am stressed at work.

Stay tuned for my hot cocoa week #2 questions and some yarn from NYC!

Irish Hiking Scarf

Pattern - Irish Hiking Scarf by hello yarn
Yarn Used - 2 skeins of Misti Alpaca Chunky in #3317 and 2 skeins of Indiecita (Plymouth) Baby Alpaca Grande Paint in 638
Needles - Denise size 9
Gauge - N/A
Knit - September, 2006 to January 08, 2008
Modifications - None.

I used chunky weight instead of worsted weight suggested because I really wanted something big and fluffy. As many of you already know, it took so long to make this simple scarf because I ran out of the Misti Alpaca! But it wasn't long enough! So I decided instead of getting something close enough, I'll make it completely different. A year and some months later, this is finally off my needles, AND just in time for the winter!

Lucky for me, I joined the "Stash Knit Down 2008" in Ravelry. And the two skeins of Plymouth count towards my January Challenge! When I have some time, I'll work on a progress meter on the side bar to keep track the progress.

On the other note, the crystals I ordered for my wedding stole had arrived:

See why I like to order from Artbeads.com? They come in this beautifully packaged tissue and they only took 3 days! Free shipping! Not bad, huh?

I ordered Crystal Moonlight and Crystal AB. Both are pretty. I can't decide what to use. I think I will alternate them since they are the same, but with different effects. I like the ranbow effect of AB, but it might be too much for the entire stole - plus I still yet need to figure out the placement of the crystals.

I think I'm gonna go sleep on it...

Dinner and Knitting

David left today for a week long trip of skiing with UMass Lowell Ski Team. This marks the beginning of the ski season for this family.

Because of his absent, my brother and I decided to try the Black Pepper Steak Sauce from this sauce book my parents bought us awhile ago. In Taiwan, when you have steaks, they are always served in hot plates (like the ones the fajitas came with) and has sauce on it. Black Pepper sauce is always my favorite. When I first moved to the US, I hated eating steaks here because it is always so blah! Who eats steaks with NO flavors? Slowly, I adjusted and figured out for myself what to do and how to marinade the steaks so they do have flavors. But I always missed the black pepper sauce. Well, I don't have to miss it anymore because I can make it myself now!

Look at that! And it taste even better! I LOVE IT! And the best thing - it is super easy to make!

One of my 2008 resolutions was to finish Irish Hiking Scarf that I started back in September of 2006. I wound the yarn for it this morning and am already done with one skein. Only one more left to go and I'll be done! Can't wait to check that off the list!

As you can see, the color is different from when I first started making it. Actually, that was the reason I stop making it - I ran out of yarn! I thought two hanks were enough - they were huge! But I forgot to figure the fact that they are also bulky yarn, meaning they take up a lot of space! By the time I realized I don't have enough, I didn't think I was going to find the same dye lot for the yarn, so instead of making it "close enough", I mad them completely different color! I wasn't sure at first on my choice, but now it's bigger, I really like it.

Hopefully, I'll have a FO to show by tomorrow night! :)

12 Repeats Done...

... 12 more to go. This shawl is going pretty slow for some reason. It could be the center decrease is not always followed by yarn overs and I keep doing the yarn overs so I keep having to fix it...

I think I need to either start something or pick up something to make in between so I don't get bored with this pattern. It really is a nice and easy pattern and when I'm in a groove, I can really go fast, but unfortunately I haven't able to do that. Maybe I'll finish my Irish Hiking Scarf that I started awhile ago but ran outta yarn. I purchased yarn awhile ago so I can finish the scarf, but I haven't picked it up yet. This would be a good chance for me to finish :) I'm gonna go wind the yarn now.

Accent?

What accent? I guess I have one from Taiwan, but to get this result...

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The West
North Central
Boston
The South
The Inland North
The Northeast
Philadelphia
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

And David, who is from outside of Boston, got this:

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The West Your accent is the lowest common denominator of American speech. Unless you're a SoCal surfer, no one thinks you have an accent. And really, you may not even be from the West at all, you could easily be from Florida or one of those big Southern cities like Dallas or Atlanta.
The Midland
Boston
North Central
The Inland North
Philadelphia
The South
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

HUH???

Aside from that, I started a Irish Hiking Scarf with Misti Alpaca. It was my airplane knit... Almost done but I have to put it down because I want to start my dad's mittens. Speaking of my dad, my parents arrived California last night and will be coming to my house for Thanksgiving next week. I can't wait :)

Happy Knitting! :)