stitch markers

Paper clip stitch markers., originally uploaded by a-chan.

So, I don't really like stitch markers. Most of the time when a pattern calls for one, I just don't use them. If I absolutely need to use one, I use a loop of yarn or paper clips or a small hair elastic.*

I'm referring to this one as my first since my first try was frogged. (I so wasn't feeling it!) But here I am with the same delima I had last time. Stitch markers. The yarn loops I started with started to fray something awful and I didn't wan the white fibers knit into this gorgeous yarn. I switched to paperclips. Paperclips may work in a pinch, but it's just uncomfortable.

I guess I need to make some real ones or something. Any tips? I have some random bead and some wire and access to a soldering iron (but Richard won't trust me with it).

Help! I'm afraid I'll stop working on this project because of this.

*hair elastic... what do you call them? I've always called them hair ties... but I guess hair elastic better describes them.

Pathetic Sock Summit post

DSC_0036, originally uploaded by a-chan.

Sock Summit was great. I do wish I had planned out the baby-sitters better so I wasn't rushing all over the place dropping Sabrina off and rushing to the convention center. Or maybe I should have made Richard take the weekend off (it was suppose to be my birthday present).

I picked up my badge on Wednesday and hung out a little since I had some time to myself. It was kind of boring, not too many people.

Thursday I had to work.

I took Friday off so I could help break the world record. I took Sabrina with me in the morning, it was her first ride on MAX. She was in a very independent mood, not wanting to ride in the ergo. After one walk around the vendors room (stopping to buy my class pack), she was restless. I ended up letting her walk all over the empty halls and outside. And then she threw a tantrum; I wouldn't give her my cell phone. So I called Richard and said he needed to come and pick her up early (he was going to come and take over for the world record attempt anyways). And of course she took a good 3 hour nap for him. Oh well. At least I got a good lunch!

(How can some one so sweet throw such a big tantrum... ask the people walking by us before I gave in a nursed her)
Saturday was my class, Spindle Spinning Basics. It was good, but I kind of wish I had just taken some of the PDXknitbloggers up on their offers of getting people started. I learned a lot, but I'm still not quite understanding. I guess I'll have to bring it to OFFF and ask for help.

I also spent money on Saturday. I didn't buy any indie dyed yarns and I feel guilty. However, I was on a strict budget. I just bought some bulk stuff (will post it later). However, I have bookmarked a bunch of etsy shops with colorways I like. I'm going to wait a little while before I buy (they all seem wiped out from SS). Plus, I'll be able to buy some at OFFF.

The ravelry party was pretty cool Saturday night. I guess it's a case of "it is what you make it" because my group is too shy to go and meet people. It was cool recognizing people even if we didn't go introduce ourselves. I saw a mini-sock that I had previously seen partially finished in the forums (I'll have to look her up, I have her first and last name, so hopefully it comes up on ravelry):

Yes, that's a spider on the back... and I believe she used size 0000 needles.

Sunday was the Luminary Panel. I loved it. I did get bored during some of it, but for the most part I loved it. I wish I'd taken classes from some of those famous knitters.

Then I headed home since my mom was making dinner at my house for my brother's family. One of my favorite meals growing up: pork chops w/lawry's seasoning and stove top stuffing with broccoli. Sabrina slept for 3.5 hours for my mom, holy cow! And she loved the stove top stuffing!

Now I'm really tired. I had to work early today and I stayed up too late last night (typical).

July's finished books

July

21 The Long Winter (RR)
22 These Happy Golden Years (RR)
23 The Joys of Love (RR)
24 Uglies
25 Pretties
26 Fahrenheit 451 (RR)
27 Specials

Total: 27 Goal: 50

Okay, I think I'm done with July. I finished two books in 3 days and had a massive reading hangover. I just can't stay up late to read anymore, even to just 1:00am. I just started Interview with the Vampire, but I'm not reading it tonight (it's downstairs in my backpack, that's how serious I am about not reading tonight).

Then there's this whole knitting thing, you know, what I normally do. I normally knit on the bus/max. I don't think I knit at all this week. I wanted to finish this February Baby sweater that's been in progress for over a year. I thought I'd finish it so I could use the needles for something else. I powered through most of it, but I'm on the last sleeve and I lost my motivation for it. It might also be the weather, too hot! We finally got a window a/c hooked up in the bedroom, yay!

And have I mentioned how excited I am for Sock Summit?? I'm not sure that I have. Next weekend can't come fast enough. Right now I'm excited about the lunch buffet. And the Ravelry meet-up... and and, my class.. and.all.that.yarn!

Trying to read 50 books this year....

Here's what I got so far:

January:

1 The Time Traveler’s Wife
2 Twilight (Book 1, Twilight Series)
3 New Moon (Book 2, Twilight Series)
4 Across the Nightingale Floor (Book 1, Tales of the Otori)

February:

5 Grass for His Pillow (Book 2, Tales of the Otori)
6 Brilliance of the Moon (Book 3, Tales of the Otori)
7 Eclipse (Book 3, Twilight Series)
8 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (RR)

March:

9 Breaking Dawn (Book 4, Twilight Series)
10 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (RR)
11 The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
12 The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
13 Life, the Universe and Everything

April

14 So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
15 Mostly Harmless
16 The Harsh Cry of the Heron (Book 4, Tales of the Otori)

May

17 Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (RR)
18 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (RR)

June

19 Little House in the big woods (RR)
20 Little House on the Prairie (RR)

July

21 The Long Winter (RR)
22 These Happy Golden Years (RR)
23 The Joys of Love (RR)
24 Uglies
25 Pretties

Total: 25 Goal: 50

Currently reading:
Fahrenheit 451 (RR), Specials

Queue:
Wurthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Heaven’s Net is Wide (Book 5, Tales of the Otori), Altered Carbon, Little House books, Mainspring, Storm Glass

(RR) = reread

As you can probably see, most of the books are sci-fi/fantasy. Only a few are re-reads, which is surprising for me. I'm about halfway done book-wise, while I'm behind time-wise. One would think I could read more than two little kid books in one month (see May and June). I read so many books while I was pumping milk for Sabrina, I just kinda quit reading for awhile after that stopped. I wish I had been keeping track before January, I probably read over 50 books last year. It's a little different with a toddler. Eh, I'll do it, I just can't keep taking week long breaks between books.

As for battling the summer heat, we're spending a lot of time in swimsuits and playing in water

to do

to do
set up topsy turvy with tomato plant
clean kitchen
look for bamboo size 3 circular needles
upload pictures to flickr*


*my card won’t read in my Mac, I can’t upload to flickr on Richard’s computer, netbook can’t do it… now what?