Happy Birthday Jill!

The gorgeous and glamorous Jill A threw a party to celebrate her birthday yesterday.

Happy Birthday Darling!!

The theme was "luck", so I threw a few lottery tickets and some sweet smelling knick-knacks into this little gem that I whipped up out of stash oddments - it was hard to give away it's pink and fluffy cuteness!


So Jill, are you a millionaire?

Good to see you sweetheart ;o)

Super-Duper-Stash-a-Listic!

You know what I was saying yesterday about getting rid of my stash....?

Thanks to the closeout sale at The Lion and The Lamb, I was able to add to the gargantuan amount of yarn already residing in my tiny apartment, just a little bit.
I had only been to the aforementioned establishment once before, a couple of years ago, but on that occasion it was closed! Since then I'd heard gossip of the high prices and none too pleasant sales staff, so I kept away, but a 50-70% off sale - I was sooo there!!
The rain stayed away and as I dodged the puddles on the bridal path during my strutt across the park to the East Side, the clouds dissolved to reveal a beautiful blue sky.
This was the last day of the sale but there was still some juciy goodies for the takin'
Here's what I carried home:

Clockwise from top left;
2 skeins of Artyarns Supermerino - I'm thinking, a long 'n' skinny version of the famous Clapotis?
3 skeins of Great Adirondack Yarn Co. Merino - Maybe a feather 'n' fan wrap?
2 skeins of Blue Sky Cotton in all their limey goodness, (I can't resist this yarn - like buddah!) - maybe another skinny scarf?
5 skeins of Misti Cotton Pima Cotton/Silk, (yum!), which may end up being an adapted version of the Hourglass Sweater?

I spent quite a while in the back room a-flippin' through the books and chatting with some fellow shoppers. Here's what I bagged:


The books were only 40% off, which only made them about the same price as you can get them on Amazon, but I was there, so I bought them.

I managed to spend less than $200, but it certainly wasn't the sale of the century. Although, I did bump into the lovely Claudine out bargin hunting on her lunch hour, so that was nice.

What with the raising temperatures and my heavy load, I had to peel off a couple of layers during my walk back across the park. It's so pretty now in all it's springtime colour!

BTW, here's what I had to move in order to open the french windows onto the balcony:

This untidy heap contains about 1/4 of my NYC yarn stash.... now you can see why I was thinking about letting some of it go!

To sum up:
Yanks read: I luurves me some yarn.
Brits read: I luv yarn, me.

Random Thought For A Thursday....

......if I got rid of my stash, (just the stash in my apartment - not the huge stash at my parents' house in England, or the medium sized stash at my pretend American parents' house in Mass., or the smallish stash in my office...), how quickly I would aquire yarn and rebuild it to it's current size?

Finished Objects

I've been a big girl blogger for two months now, but have yet to post any FO's!
Since all the book projects have been completed and sent off for their modelling debut, I've been a busy hooker!
3 completed projects from Debbie's book.

2 One-Skein Scarves, one for me, (bet you can't guess which one from the photo!) the other one is a long over-due gift for my big sis, who's colour palette isn't quite as, well, colourful as mine, (hope she's not reading this!)
I love this pattern for it's simplicity - I've had a few complements already for my pink and orange scarf. Thanks to Johanna for the b-day pressie yarn - I've been wanting to work with it since December, but have been otherwise engaged.
Then there's a Fat Bottomed Bag which I made to carry my camera in for Lisa & Jeff's Wedding - no photo of the bag in action, but it went beautifully with my black mandarin dress - just take my word for it :o)


As I didn't get to keep my Violet Beauregard skirt, I'm making another one for ME!! I'm up to the start of the scallops, but need to pick up some more yarn, so it's on hold until I can search NY for it, or buy it online...
I also want to make a crochet dress to wear at Melissa and Robb's wedding in July - I'm thinking of adapting the Blissful pattern....
Here's the lovely engaged and expecting couple - how happy do they look? - and rightly so!


Knitting wise, not much going on. I need a new everyday bag, but don't have any definate plans as yet - might play around with some of my stash this weekend...
I'm also trying hard not to think about all the Maryland Sheep & Wool fun I'll be missing out on - If you're heading out there, have a fabulous time!!!!

Good to know...

You Are 50% Weird

Normal enough to know that you're weird... But too damn weird to do anything about it!

How Weird Are You?

Call The Fashion Police!

The door was unlocked when I entered my office yesterday morning.
My first thought? "What idiot didn't lock up last night?"
My second thought? "Why did they leave the place in such a mess?"
Then it dawned on me, "We've been robbed!"

Someone had smashed through the glass door from the fire escaped and turned the place upsidedown!

After a quick inspection, (it's only a small place), I came up with a list of what had been taken:
Samples from our spring line; tanks, low placket henleys, lightweight split neck tunics, little cardis - they had left the shrugs behind - these crooks know fashion!!!
Our two digital cameras were gone containing all the photos of our winter line that I had yet to download.
We have a show starting this weekend, it could've been a lot worse - the majority of the samples had been taken to our showroom the previous day - phew!

A boxed pair of shoes I had bought that were a size too small and had been meaning to return were also missing.
Other items; two rolls of stamps, a ridiculously small amount of petty cash, the cheques and a sports watch.

My secret yarn stash was still there - these were not knitting thieves!

Thank god they didn't take the computers!

Our security has now been totally rienforced and I will now remember to back up files and return unwanted items to shops promptly!

That was the start of my day. The ending wasn't that good either.....

I spent almost 3hrs waiting at UPS for a package that I had already waited around for a couple of days ago - the worst part?
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY KNITTING WITH ME!!!! WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING?!!!!!!

Blogognized!

My goodness what a beautiful shop Purl Patchwork is. Joelle is a genius! Thank goodness I don't have a sewing machine in my Manhattan shoebox - I really wouldn't be able to move!!!

There I was dreaming away about all the pretty things I could make for my imaginary French farmhouse when in walked a familiar face. "You're a masondixon!" I rather stupidly announced. It was Kay, (athough, I'm ashamed to say that I couldn't remember which half of the blogging duo she was and called her by the wrong name - oops - sorry about that!)

Like myself, she was a first time visitor to the shop and was there looking to purchase a sewing machine, (so she must have a bit more room than me!)
It was at this moment that I realized I was in the prescence of two brilliant knitting book authors, Joelle and Kay. And there was little me, an almost knitting book author - I was with my people!!! I can only dream of being as accomplished as they....

A Breath of Fresh Country Air!

Yeah, I know, everyone else involved has already blogged about this, I'm just a little, teeny-tiny bit stressed out and overworked at the mo....so here's my late effort...

Easter Weekend 2006
Jill R, Jill A, Katy and I piled a weekend's worth of projects into Jill R's car, (the heavy load causing concern over the amount of air in the tyres!!) We hightailed it out of the city for a blissful weekend of knitting, snacking, girly gossip and well deserved relaxation.
As hatitants of the over-populated and tiny island it was a huge treat to stop off for supplies at Stew's.



No ordinary supermarket - this is the stuff of food shopping dreams! Stacked to the rafters with everything we could possibly need for a food fest, plus a lot more besides.


How many food shops do you know have wishing wells?

Or singing cows?


Once settled in to our home for the weekend and after the arrival of the rest of the knitters, Lynnette, Jewel and Claudine, we got down to the serious business at hand, KNITTING!!! Let's see if I can remember some of the projects....
Lynette was finishing up a brighty spaced-dyed, cotton pullover for her niece? Does Lynette have a neice?
Katy was working on her own design of her very first adult-sized cardigan in beautifully soft alpaca with a contrast mohair trim.
Jill R, (our fabulous hostess), was knitting a pink number for herself, (what a surprising colour choice!), while swapping projects periodically to work on a gorgeous sparkly, needlepoint of a sun which will be the centre of a silk cushion, (just a bit jealous of that one!)
Jewel, when awake (hehe), was knitting a cute baby cardi and booties -there was some pattern swapping going on between Jewel and Jill A, who was also knitting booties.
Jill A spent a good amount of time searching through pattern books and magazines for the perfect lace pattern - did you find it yet? She also helped me stuff some balls for a book project, (thanks darlin"!), and assisted Claudine by crocheting the edge of her huge brown alpaca wrap-cardi-thingy.
Lynette had to leave on Saturday morning to go back and celebrate her husband's 40th - Happy Belated Birthday, Chris!!!
It was sad to see her leave, but before you could say slip, slip, knit, she was swiftly replaced by the lovely Nicole.
The rest of the weekend was a sunny delight! No more clouds and drizzle!
We strolled down to the lake and dipped our toes into the icey cold water - brrrrrr!
Here's Jill R - "Queen of the World!!!"

And a bevvy of beauties in their unnatural habitat

Now the obligatory knitting shots...isn't this just the perfect room for a group knitting sesh?






It wasn't all knitting though, we did watch the first four Harry Potter films - my god, are we really that nerdy? (It was my first time watching them and I did drift off quite a bit after the first two - 'spose it doesn't help that I was pattern writing at the same time!)

Thanks to Katy, her shoe-box full of kitchen utensils, and her talented soux chef, Jill A, we were treated to some delish home-made pizza, (the local joint hand recently burnt to the ground....where will the country kids hang out now???)
Claudine made us all fall in love with her all over again for making hot fudge sauce poured over ice cream - mmmmm

Claudine and I burned off a few calories getting down to Nicole's DVDs - I loved it! These crazy LA ladies will hopefully help me to tone up after a long winter of inactivity. It's really scarey how quicky you can loose your strength, flexibility and stamina!!


Now really, does life get any better than this?

The Kindness of Stranger

As any other morning, I was knitting whilst waiting for the train to arrive.
What was different about today was that my naughty yarn lept out of my bag and down onto the track, "Arggghhhh!!" I screamed.
A very lovely fellow, jumped down to retrive it for me - thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!! What a nice man.
Here's the cone, safe, sound, not too grubby after it's traumatic ordeal and ready to become the rest of my final project for the you-know-what.

New Faces

Nice to meet out-of-towner, Faith Landsman, (of Doris Daymat fame), yesterday evening. She flew into NY from LA just to be with us, (that's a lie!) Very lovely person - hope to catch up with her if I ever make it to Cali! Here's a snap of her at the end of the big-girl's table along with Jewel, Jessamyn and Nadine.


We were also entertained by Adina Klein from Vouge Knitting and Knit.1 showing us a few of the sweaters and accesories from the Fall and Spring mags. It was interesting to hear what goes on behind the scenes of the photoshoots and to put a person behind the ideas for the stories.

I'm really flagging today - zero energy - and what about this crazy weather?

Anyway, here are some more photos from last night....the camera wasn't behaving well, so they're mostly blurry...sorry about that :o(



Ruth, Jessica, Jill R, Jill A, Rachel and Jenn.

P.S. Mudd - We miss you!!!

Monday ramblings

My life has not been completely normal for the last few months.
I haven't had a day without working since Christmas.
I've lived off mostly take away food and excerised only a handful of times - my body does not look good!
Thankfully all this has taken place thoughout the winter so I've been able to cover up the untoned, white, lumpiness but summer will be here soonish, (yippee - my favorite season!), but I need to get into shape starting, errmm, in a few weeks?
Throughout my life I have spent large periods of time sprawled in front of the gogglebox, but I have not been wasting my time - I've been knitting!!!
Lately that's all I've been doing, (plus writing, editing as well as my dayjob and teaching), but I'm not complaining about that, I want to complain about the rubbish that's supossed to be entertaining me during my exile! It really is utter drivel!!
Jill's recent entry got me started.... What's going on? Where do I go to find a decent programme??? What are you watching? Anything good?
This Saturday I spent hours watching back to back episodes of America's Next Top Model, which REALLY made me feel good about the state of my temple!!
Oooh, in case anyone's reading this and like's the same crap as me.....Rockstar INXS is coming back!!! HOORAH!!! Except, of course, it won't be INXS this time.....my inside source dished the dirt that Jason, (EX Metallica), and his new band, (who's name has completely escaped me...and I could be totally wrong about this - wouldn't be the first time!) are looking for a new singer. I asked my fella if I should audition, but they're only interested in a frontMAN - pants!!! There goes my chance at Rock startdom!!

Didn't Make The Cut

Because I thought I had the wrong colour yarn with me yesterday at the Point, there was no other choice but to buy more yarn. A cartoon lightbulb was switched on over my head as the idea of making a crochet dress to wear at Lisa & Jeff's wedding in 12 days. (Beacause I've got soooo much time on my hands, right?) After scanning the offerings, Jill A pointed me in the direction of some gorgeous multi-coloured and multi-textured yarn by The Great Adirondack Yarn Company. I chose this beautiful colourway and started right away with the waistband.
My little design will have to be put on hold though, as I need my hands for working on yet another book project...

This poor baby failed to pass the audition.
I had hoped that all this cabling would become the most beautiful men's jumper...but it just didn't work out the way I wanted and unfortunately it will not be appearing in a book anytime soon.
So guess what? I'll need more yarn for another sweater to take it's place!!
Will the designing and knitting for this book ever end?

The Final Countdown

Now I've chosen that as my title, the awful song by 80's hair-band, Europe, is in my head... Do do do Da da da da dahh.... Anyway...the last chapter of my book has been written and I've almost finished the last pattern.
It has been a rather trying time as I had just about completed the knitting of a large men's cardigan, when I realised I had made a mistake right at the start - I was ready to give up as it had taken me every spare moment since Tuesday to knit it, but there was nothing I could do to save it...
The re-knitting started yesterday and thanks to HBO on Demand, (Sex and the City reruns, the first 3 episodes of Big Love, a couple of really crap films and the fuel provided by the photographic evidence, I'm well on the way to having it mostly knit up again from scratch.
In an hour I will still be knitting it whilst watching Desperate Housewives, followed by Grey's Anatomy all washed down with a large slice of Vegan Death by Chocolate Cake, (which I would normally share with Glen and he ALWAYS takes more than half - but he's not here! He's still working in Montreal so the cake's mine ALL MINE - mmwuhhahahahaa!!!) It's a lonely life as a sweater designer/knitting book author.....Ho-hum....Monday tomorrow....

Knitters Unite!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love our knitting group? Well, if I haven't then let me express my love to you in a little poem.

huh-huummm..

Closing credits for Grey's Anatomy,
the weekend is through.
Monday's are crap
what a girl to do?
Tuesday follows
not feeling so blue.
Knitters unite and take over
the fun starts a-new....

OK, I never said I was good at poetry!!! Can you do any better??

A few of us gathered at the lovely Miss Jill A's fabulous East Village apartment last Sunday.
Lorie, the founding member of the Bagdad Stitch 'n Bitch was in town and we all wanted to meet her.

Her experiences as a jornalist out in Iraq sounded very interesting and I must find out how I can link to her.... Jill A will be our NY conntact, and hopefully she'll visit us again the next time she's in town. I bumped into her again a-yarn shopping on Monday - she decided to stay another day and cruise our wonderfull knitting shops - clever girl ;o)

Her being in town also gave us an excuse to gather up our extensive pattern collections and do a bit of a swap-a-thon.

How the hours flew by........ eating tastey treats prepared by our hostess gastronome.


Fipping though pattern books...








and generally having a good old time - and of course there was knitting.




It was really good to see Debbie again and catch up. She has a couple of new books in work which I'm sure will be fabulous. I'm looking forward to trying some of the crochet patterns from "Happy Hooker".




The Jill's and I snuggled down to watch the telly, but left before Grey's Anatomy - can anyone update me? Is George speaking to Meredith yet?? Did the handsome patient with the heart condition die???



I consumed so much chocolate and fizzy pop that I couldn't get to sleep that night......why am I so lame?

In knitting news....

The book is on Amazon already!!!

I'm knitting the FINAL pattern, now that an enormous cone of Superfine Alpaca has arrived from Kraemer - Yum!


What will be my first non-book project? Or will I be sick to death of knitting? - hahahahaaahaaahaaahaaahaaaaaa!! NEVER!!!

I'm a Shrub

Lunchtime!!

Bravely battling against the wind, I managed to get myself down to Whole Paycheck to pick up some delicious raw salad - yum!!


If only I had the patience/time to make this sort of stuff myself - It may not look like much but it's fabulously yummy....mmm




Anyway, in the entrance I was greeted to a spectular display of the prettiest pink heathers I have ever seen...they really caught my eye and seeing as though I managed to kill my little cactus, (how hard is it to keep a catus alive, for heaven's sake?!) I could not resist all that pink - here's the newest member of my family....


I think I'll call her Mini Me - unless you can think of a better name?

So Sad...

I have a problem with spelling.........Why does my brain embarass me so?

Whilst editing a pattern, I had to include a certain seaming technique. My brain wants to spell the word, m-a-t-e-r-e-s-s, but in order for me to remember the correct spelling, I have to sing the annoying, (though rather jolly), advertising jingle, "1-800-M-A-T-T-R-E-S",then add a second S, (for savings)!

To remember compass points I have to go through the whole, "Never Eat Shredded Wheat" thing - and to remember which is left and right? - Forged-abou-did!

Born This Day in 1933?

It's Daddy Dixon!!!

What a smoothie - haha!
Happy 73rd birthday Soft Jack!!! - They'll be some celebrating tonight!

Why are my parents always wearing aprons??

Here's a nice shot of the oldest and youngest Dixons - Daddykins with the most adorable baby EVER!! My newphew Travis - and who can spot the two Finished objects by yours truely in this photo? - Finally some knitting content!!


These photos were taken when I was last in Jolly Olde Engerland for Christmas - I miss the old place - I wish it was easier to nip over for a cup of tea every now and then - sigh!

Born This Day in 1936?

It's Mumbly Trimbly!!!

Doesn't she look great? And not a gey hair in sight - now you see where I get my youthful good looks from!
Happy 70th Birthday Mummy!!! Have a Fabulous day!!!
I wish I could be there to celebrate with you - Now take off that apron and go and put your feet up!

Monkeying Around

That man of mine is on his way back to Montreal again for another few weeks - which gives me time to get on with my workload - Hoorah!
Although our apartment is teeny-tiny, we have a huge communal front garden, (Central Park):

Isn't it pretty?

The sunshine brought out all manner of wild creatures - Regard, le singe dans l'arbre...


It could be time to dust off the old wallet and spend some hard earned green-backs on a pair or two of high quality street-vendor stylin' shades to keep out those harmful, yet delicious, UVB rays - Roll on Summer!



But take heed, my pale-skinned compardres, before you go running to slap on the Factor 50, pick your sunbathing location with care, keep away from the railings or a serious tanning malfuction may occur!


(Sorry Lisa, I just couldn't resist it!!)

If any of my talented blogging friends are crazy enough to read this drivel, I have a little question....To be able to make text links, I need to click on a link symbol - but I've looked everywhere for it! Where is it, the little tease? At the top of my posting box all I see is the spellcheck, the picture thingy, the Recover post then the Preview......can you tell me where to find it??? I've looked all over the place! Thanks!

Also, I apologize for the lack of knitting content - "normal" knitting will resume as soon as I get the you-know-what finished!

Let The Sun Shine!

What a beautiful day it be laying on the setee with the blinds closed!
Feeling very sleepy today, but can't let that stop the flow of creativity.
Glen has graced us with his presence for a couple of days, (leaving again for the frozen north early tomorrow).
I thought that I'd put work aside and enjoy a day with the tall one - well, that's what I had hoped! He's out getting his car fixed, so while I have a few minutes, I thought I'd do a little bit of an update.
Kara's Birthday Gift Exchange.
Last month Kara generously hosted a Knitted Gift Exchange - Michelle and Jessica have already blogged about it much better than I ever will, but here are a few of the photos I took that fun-filled evening.

Here's Bubby!
This was Jessica's gift - what a happy little fellow he is, beautifully wrapped and ready to go home with his new Mummy, Jill R.



I didn't get any more good photos of the other knitted gifts - probably because I was stuffing my face with the incredible, delicious and very veggie-friendly spread all prepared and presented by Kara's talented hubby, Mike - thanks Mike!!










Smile if your name begins with J!
Jewell, Johanna and Jill R!





Claudine cuts Kara's carrot cake - say that 5 times fast!





Of course there was knitting...



Katy Knits NYC - oh yes she does! I think this is the Robin Hood Sweater from "Adorable Knits for Tots" - Love that pattern!

Fabulous evening - thanks very much Kara for a super party - ooh and thanks to Johanna who knitted the wonderfully warm alpaca hat - the gift that I was lucky enough to receive - it's been keeping my ears toasty :o)