Support the Starving Artist!!!!

Work update:

I am now down to working only two days a week - which means a LOT less money coming my way :o(

Until I can find a better gig, keep me off the streets by buying my T-Shirts and stuff - Go on, you know you want to!!

I'll be working on more designs soon.

Thank you, every penny helps!!

Yes, I'm a Hippy!!

How much do I love my New Hampshire friends???
Flippin' loads!!!

The weather was perfect - so warm and sunny - such a change from the torrential downpouring we had the previous weekend.

What made this particular weekend special was that my friends' friends' band were also staying at the house while they played a couple of gigs in the area.

NHU held SolarFest the first outdoor festival I've been to in donkeys years!! I need to get out more often!!!

Hot Buttered Rum are a crackin' band - not only do they know how to get the crowd moving but they are truely lovely people!! I hope to catch up with them when I go to SF in June, (a trip I've been wanting to take forever!!!!)

Here are the pics:




Annabel twirling as if she's been following The Greatful Dead her whole life!!







With her Mummy, and my fabulous friend, Valda.






My new love and muse, Lucky.















The little family playing, Up in the Sky!







Hot Buttered Rum doing what they do best!












And the crowd loves it!







Al fresco dining with our new friends.








While the band serenades us - It was a perfect weekend!! (except for the fact that I didn't knit a stitch - hehe.)


Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!!!

Bon Voyage little Jewell

We will miss our talented friend and SnB member, Jewell, as she heads back to the Windy City with her imaginary boyfriend and very cute dog!!
I'll leave you with photo evidence of how her team did in the Superbowl a few months back:


























Have a wonderful time out there in the wilderness - Keep in touch!!!!!

Edited to add - I just heard that the immaginary boyfriend proposed!! - CONGRATUTIONS!!!!!!!!
Maybe one day, I'll get to meet your immaginary husband ;o)

Spot the Mistake and Other Tales...

See what happens when your mind isn't on the project in hand? (hehehe - hand - geddit?) - I thought knitting was supposed to be good for relieving stress?

I've hardly had any time for knitting recently. Two weeks ago, I sat down at the Point and couldn't even manage one little stitch! I just sat there and stroked the lime green cashmere that would become a lace scarf.... it helped to calm me...

The mittens did get fixed so that I don't have to have my thumb surgically repositioned but I haven't quite managed to sew in the ends etc. yet.

I want to express my thanks to all who have been soooo supportive to me in the past few weeks - I'm so lucky to have you all gunning for me and it looks like I will be with a new employer within the next few months.

My living arrangements are still temporary - just a mattress on the floor and everything else in boxes. I don't want to unpack until I move to something more permanent.

In other news....



One thing about the NY Stitch n Bitches that I love, love, love is our combined senses of humour - We do love a good old laugh - and one of the best gigglers around is our mate Sweet Girl - here she is modeling a piece of knitting that could possibly be a boob tube??? Not so sure about that one, especially worn over her cute little waistcoat - but she certainly looks happy!!



Ages ago, when Nation was still warm off the presses, Klara approached me, asking for help with my Candy Stripers pattern. She appeared again, a few weeks ago to show me her finished bag. I think it looks fab and I love her colour choices.





That's all I can muster for this horribly rainy Monday morning. I'm off to build an ark to fill with yarn...

I'll leave you with a very belated shot of me and some of the knitters who enjoyed a fabulous evening being entertained by our Harlot. Give a shout out if you can see yourself ;o)

The Strong Arm of the Knitting

Living in New York City has it's ups and downs. After being here for 10 years you'd think that I would have some stories to tell but apart from the odd "crazy person" sighting every now and again, it's really just life as normal - that was until yesterday evening....

There was I, feeling rather shattered after the weekend's moving drama, waiting for the uptown Charlie train at 42nd Street, minding my own business, thinking about unpacking my stuff and making a start on organising the new pad when an E train starts to pull away. I see a man standing between two carriages. "Idiot!" I think to myself, "What on earth does he think he's doing?" Quick as a flash he lurches towards me and grabs a hold of the handle of my knitted laptop bag that was hanging casually from my arm. No way was I going to let him have my precious computer full of unfinished patterns and project photos yet to be published, not to mention all the expensive applications I've managed to aquire over the last couple of years!!!! I tugged back as hard as I could and I won the battle - nearly bashing into the speeding train as to spun around to the gasp of the crowd!!

I'm OK - a little battered and bruised but alive and intact and have a New York story under my belt!

I don't think I'll be standing as close to the platform edge from now on and will make sure that I keep a tighter grip on my belongings.

Want to make a strong and mugger-proof laptop bag of you own? The pattern is in here!

The Harlot ROCKS!!!!!

Quickie Post....

Was in the 750 strong crowd at FIT yesterday evening to witness the wonder of The Yarn Harlot - She did not disappoint. - Please leave a comment if you blogged about this - so others can read about it - as I'm strapped for time - thanks :o)

Life is hectic because:
- After the split from the Boyfriend, I need to move all my crap out on Sunday. Have managed to find temporary home while I wait for my new apartment in Harlem to be fixed up.
If anyone wants to help me move my numerous boxes of yarn and UFOs on Sunday give me a shout - I'll provide the pizza ;o)

- Need to find a new job as this company is slowly grinding to a halt. There are a total of 3 employees left and for most of the past week I have been flying solo - the boss is off sunning herself in the Bahamas!

- I haven't felt well since before Christmas.... do you think it could be stress related????

- I haven't had a chance to read any blogs in months!!!!!!!!

I think I'll eat a Cadbury's Creme Egg for breakfast - Thanks Mummy!!!

Ooooh ooooh oooh! - Check out our fab new T-shirts and stuff! - Thanks Miss Claudine ;o)

Only here for the beer.....?

I love this book and had wanted to knit the Hooded Sweater for someone for ages.

At the last yarn swap I bagged enough of the required yarn to make it but not quite enough for the hood.
My little nephew was the lucky recipient, although he doesn't look too happy in it here:






















Maybe it was because he wanted to get back to downing his favorite bevvy?

Stripey - From Head to Toes!

Ohhhhhhh, it's been a long time since my last post.
My excuse? I had to clear out/save to disk a whole year's worth of photos before I could download the new ones.

Whilst work and personal life are going through some changes I have still been able to knit, athough the projects did need to be of the mindless type - which means hats, lots and lots of hats. I think I made around 15 of these babies over three weeks.



































































Then I moved onto socks:



I love these Lion Brand Magic Stripes - This pattern is the long version of my
Pirate Stripe Socks from this super little book ;o)
I added ribs to the leg part of the first pair, but prefer the flatter,(and quicker to knit), stocking stitch version.

As I mentioned, changes are in store but I'll let you know more about that in a couple more weeks. I haven't read any other blogs in ages, so sorry if I haven't left any comments - I hope to pop by and say Hi soon!

Stay warm!!

Green

Taking a break from the usual oranges and reds, it was high time I knit a couple of things to match my eyes. First up, an adaptation of my very own Bean Beanie pattern from the fabulous, Not Your Mama's Knitting - (who's affraid of a little self promotion? - Not me!): Worked in stripes of Rowan Kid Classic and Kidsilk Haze - it's snuggly :o)
















Here's my second attempt at Clapotis - If you haven't made this wonderful shawl/scarf yet, what are you waiting for ?? I still love dropping those stitches! Knitted this in Mountain Colors Sock Yarn - 2 skeins.






Made it a little skinnier and longer for more of a scarf than a shawl. The bulk of my Clapotis was knitted this past weekend up in Ancram - Jill R's country house. 12 of us spent a cold and frosty weekend snuggled up in the warmth of Camp Roth.









Thanks Jill and everyone involved for making it a relaxing time - I really needed it!!



I think the fresh air might've been a bit too much for Jill A, that little minx is always up to something and always makes me smile ;o)



















As I was too busy playing with my nephew over the Christmas holiday, I didn't get chance to take any photos of him in his new handknits so I asked my brother to send me some. This is what he sent me:
Should I inform child services??

Weather and TV

"Global warming is a Liberal Coup", a friend's friend remarked a couple of years ago.....

I'm inclined to disagree.

Like most people, I love a nice warm and sunny day but couldn't quite properly enjoy the 70 plus degree temperature we had last weekend - it was just wrong!
Here are a few snapshots I took on a walk around the park.

Ice, what ice?







There is a beautiful statue in Central Park that I hadn't seen in real life before, (as I tend to hang around the reservoir by my doorstep).
It has been featured in films and TV programmes many times, most notably, (for me anyway), in a recent-ish and rather good, mini-series called, "Angels in America".

Here's Angel of the Waters at Bethesda Fountain:




And a close-up of the beautiful face that spookily creaks up to face the camera in the dramatic titles of the aforementioned show:
















And a pretty shot of the boating lake - which would normally be frozen, but plenty of people were out, making the most of the unseasonably gorgeous day.






The weather is closer to normal now, although still warm enough for me to stomp around the park without hat, scarf and mittens to go splashing through the puddles wearing my new wellies, (thanks Ju-pot!)



When will I get to wear my new knits? (Photos still need to be taken.....)

In other news.... I managed to get tickets for my boss and I to be audience members at a recording of "Martha" last Thursday morning.
And here's the poof:







It was an interesting experience and I found Ms Stewart to be impressively professional and quite quick witted off camera.

Guests on that particular show were two very real, taletend, charming and vertically challenged women - Aunt Flora, who baked a Vegetable Cobbler and Eugenia Kim who showed us how to make a gorgeous, red feather cloche. She also quoted a site where you can purchase the feathers - love this name!
We were presented with a copy of her book - which is fabulous!
I look forward to trying my hand at making a few of them - but as my plate is rather full at the mo - don't hold your breath!!

Billy No Mates

All the Cool kids are doin' it....

My Production Assistant at the day job is always on MySpace when the boss isn't looking. I thought it was just for teenagers looking for online romance but it seems as though I was mistaken. At the end of the workday, yesterday, she showed me how to get a page of my own. My Feeble attempt is here.

As I am crap at all this and way behind everyone else.... I only have three friends - thank goodness for Tom!!! If anyone wants to join me in being a cyberspace friend, you know where to find me ;o)

Miss Woodshed

My niece doesn't like her nickname, which makes us tease her with it even more!
She's great fun and has tonnes of energy!!! It was really lovely to spend time with her over Christmas.
I managed to finish the sweater I made for her just in time to give to her at a little dinner party we had over at the farm. (I say little dinner party, as illness prevented most of the guests from attending, so it was just my Mum and I being spoilt by my sister's fabulous cooking.
Here's the chunky cotton jumper, (mysterious, unmarked, stash yarn) - I used every last little centimetre, meaning that the sleeves weren't as long as I had planned - but that stops them from getting in her dinner, right?




Here's the little munchkin wearing it over her fairy dress, sitting with her favorite Aunty:




And 3 generations of the Dixon women, (except that the little one has a different last name....she's still one of us!)






It's a tough life being almost 5. Here she is sat atop one of Mummy's horses, (She had her own mini horse, a sheltland pony before she could walk!):








And just like Daddy's, her own little tractor:






We had some fun together, didn't we? I'll miss you!

NYC SnB

I had a few shots of the group taken on Tuesday evening at the Point.
The Point is a fab place to hang out and knit - you should check it out sometime :o)
Thanks Berhan for being photographer, (although he says that he doesn't read this!)
I love this group! - Aren't we a handsome bunch!

Resolutions...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

How did you spend the birth of 2007?

I flew back to NYC yesterday.
My holiday is over and I didn't get anywhere near as much done as I had hoped. This was due to the cold I caught which zapped all of my energy, but it did mean that I was forced to rest - something that I've not been very good at recently, so perhaps it was for the best!
Thank you to my family for making it a lovely Christmas - I hope to see you all again soon and not leave it a whole year again til i do so!
There are photos that need to be posted, but will have to wait for another day...

I arrived back at the tiny dark apartment in the afternoon. I'm alone here AGAIN as the boyfriend is STILL IN MONTREAL. It's his birthday today, but seeing as though I made the effort to come back to celebrate with him and he didn't, then HE GETS NOTHING!!!!
As you might gather, I'm a little miffed about this and so I should be!!

After having a good long chat with me old mate, Valda, (who stayed at home in New Hampshire for the holidays and not back in her native Leicester), I retired to bed for a "nap", which after 7 hrs, was dissrupted by the booming sounds of the fireworks at midnight! Whoops....I missed the ball drop! I put on the telly to watch some of the revellers in Time Square, (rather them than me!), called the boyfriend to leave a message of Happy New Year and Happy Birthday, but he didn't answer....... I jumped back into bed where I stayed until 5:30am.
Since then I have been re-knitting the second sleeve of my secret menswear project and it's probably where I'll stay for the rest of the day. (I want this project over with - I've still got to write the pattern out properly.)

My Mum wants me to knit her a cardigan. I bought her some yarn when we were in John Lewis in Nottingham. I hope to start it tomorrow at our Stitch N Bitch meeting....

So, onto my New Year's resolutions.....I hope to be able to keep these:

1. Buy more yarn.
2. Knit, a lot.
3. Maybe do a bit of crochet too.
4. Try to get to the gym I pay for at least 3 times this year.
5. Eat delicious food.
6. Buy more clothes desighed for girls about 20 years younger than me.
7. Think about spending more time outside.
8. Enjoy being with and having a good old laugh with my friends.
9. Talk about getting my website in order.
10. Think, A LOT about holidays in hot climates.

I should be able to manage these - what'd'ya think?

Merry Christmas Everybody!!!

I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Here's our tree on Christmas morning. This is not the tree we had originally.
My parents are bright and clever and interesting and practical and pretty worldly and very funny. But not that quick when it comes to buying Christmas trees. This year my brother found himself in a similar situation - all the usual places had sold out or closed down. (Unlike where I live in Manhattan, where you can't walk two blocks without encountering a pavement covered in deliciously pine-fragrant trees of all sizes).
The youngest of my siblings did manage to find a place that still had a few trees left so he got one for us as well as one for his own little family. He kindly brought it over, sawed off the bottom, chopped off a few of the lower branches, found a bucket and some rocks and set it up in our living room. Celebrating his efforts by lifting my niece onto his shoulders so she could pop the fairy on the top. It looked good. Nice and tall and broad. Then the needles started to drop. Not just the normal few... the carpet started to turn from light brown to pine needle green.
So....we turned to my sister and she found us this little beauty, just in time for my Mum and neice to decorate it on Christmas eve. The good thing about a small tree is that it doesn't take so long to decorate!

I can't remember much since my last posting.....it's all a blur of sneezing, nose blowing, and trying to get to sleep - this has been my main source of nourisment, (not the fly spray!):


My Dad had a rotten cold when he greated me on the driveway last Sunday. I was weak and tired - I knew I would catch it!!
On the train ride back from London, I started to feel it coming.... the scratchy thoat....that pressure in the sinuses... I didn't have the energy to fight it... I just let it claim me.
I'm feeling much better now though! My strength returned just enough for me to make a delicious vegetarian Christmas pie:

Good job too, otherwise I would've had just potatoes for my main meal, (wouldn't be the first time!) And seeing as though I'm the only veggie in the family -there's plenty left over for me to eat whenever I want a nibble - hoorah!
Of course it wouldn't be Christmas without Quality Strret. My sister bought two giant tins. My favorite is the fudge one - YUM! I'm not going back to NY until I've put on at least 10 pounds!!

Although I was out of it for the last few days, I did manage to get a bit of knitting in, (no surprise there then!)
Here's a scarf I finished in the wee hours of Christmas morning when the house was full of snores and ticking clocks:

It's the free kit I got for renewing my Rowan membership last year. I think it's called Froth Scarf and it's made from two balls of Kidsilk Haze, (nice stuff, but a pain to frog!) I didn't want to do the ruffle trim, so just carried on with the main pattern until I'd used up all the yarn.
Here's the recipient, taking a break from kitchen duties:


As well as being nuts about all things knitting, I have another passion......I am an admirer of the work of Dutch artist and storyteller, Dick Bruna. My favorite character of his being a certain little rabbit named, Miffy. Over the years I have collected tonnes of Miffy stuff; books, toys, mobiles, bags, pencils etc. but I don't have the room for such a collection now so it is mostly boxed up in my parents' attic, at least that's where I hope it is!!
I usually where an orange Miffy watch, but I need to replace the battery!
This Christmas my Mum gave me these:

Hoorah! My feet will be warm and happy and covered in pink Miffies!!




Talking of pink......that's my 4 3/4 year old niece's favorite colour...
Here's she is testing out her new pink skates - we had good fun yesterday tearing up and down the hall - i think its fabulous that she shows no fear and laughs louder than ever when shes dramatically crashes to the floor!


I'll be babysitting her this evening while my sister and her partner/boyfriend/finace? (not sure what we're calling him at mo?), anyway...they're going out tonight, so I'll be over at their farm getting up to all sorts of mischeif with little miss trouble! hehehe!

It's great being at my parents' house. It's spacious and airy and I get to sleep in a proper bed! There is plenty of good food and we have a good laugh. But there are weird things in the house - things one normally wouldn't expect to see...
As I walked into the room I'm sleeping in, I notice stuff on the floor - the usual; clothes, boxes, remains of Christmas present wrapping, then near a set of drawers was this:

Two limbless dolls wrapped in plastic...

Downstairs in the "Sewing Room", so named as it houses a couple of sewing machines and tonnes of fabric, but also many other things that haven't found a proper home. When I went in there to fetch a box of chocolate shortbread biscuits, (YUM!),I found these in the corner:




Is it just my family that's like this?