Update Required!

I'm on a new medication that keeps me from sleeping, and last night as I lay awake I decided that I need a new look. See, I've been in yoga pants and tees since May. A new look is so needed. My new hair is probably part of the spark - I'm partly refreshed but not completely. I miss my boots. Eric bought me the greatest cowboy boots a few years ago - black with chains. I love love love them. They also happen to look great with my big black leather jacket that mom doesn't like because I look like a bad girl or something. Here's what I'm thinking, though: boots, fishnets, a sassy retro-esque skirt (sorta fiftiesish) and a slightly off-shoulder top. Something easy but stylish and unique. I suppose I need to start sewing - new clothes don't grow on trees, and in my small town chances are good that I won't find what I want. Any suggestions, ideas, offers for seamstress work? I'm all ears!

Ravenclaw-ness

It's been awhile - lots of personal problems have kept me less than conversational lately. I do have some things to share, though.

The Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup has been alot of fun so far. I have been recruited as beater for the quiddich team. That means that I was asked to spin some yarn for a whole-house project. I'm spinning some baby camel down - it will be trim on a hood for a little girl. The camel is so soft and fluffy - I had to chase my little girl out of it last night before she got too attached. I'm planning to ply it with some bronze thread to make it sparkle and be more Ravenclaw-y.

My first homework assignment was for astronomy class- make something star related. I crocheted a star lap blanket. I did have to modify my color choice, though, to black and gray because blue and gray just screams Dallas Cowboys and I really don't want that.

For transfiguration we were asked to pick a project that was something we hadn't done before. I already had a pattern that I wanted to do that had three new things - cables, stripes, and thumb gussets. I did go with the blue and gray for this, though, so it will match some other things that I have planned. I also learned how to make a reverse-image right/left pair, too. Yay,me!

Now, I'm sure you're wondering why there's a picture of me and not just the gloves. Well, some of you haven't seen me in awhile. Some of you have never seen me. It's not a great picture - pardon the kind of double chin effect - but here I am. Besides, I really like my new hair - shorter and darker than it's been in awhile.

For anyone interested, it's time to be signing up for fall sock clubs. I'm in the winter edition of the Knitting up a Storm yarn club. It's based on movies this time. First up is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Woo hoo! I'm really excited to see what Anna does for the colorway. The summer book skeins are all so pretty and match really well. Of course I'll be making something in honor of my man Sirius.

Speaking of men, I found Josh Bernstein's new show last night on accident. I've missed him. He makes me want to rush out on adventures...well, I'll leave that there. heh.
Finally, here's a little something to show off:

Know what it is? Here's another clue:

It's the first shipment for the Wollmeise sock club! It came today. I'm so loving the purple skein - it's called Elder Bush. It's so rich and wonderful. I think it will be a scarf or shawl or top or something that can be seen. The green is called Box Wreath. I'm not into green but it's pretty. I hope I don't get in trouble for showing a picture - in ravelry we're supposed to use a spoiler picture in our stash. So don't tell on me!

That's all for now, I guess. I'll go back to reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows now - I'm almost at the really good part!

I forgot to show!

Here's a skein I spun and am proud of. It's some roving from etsy called Razzmatazz. It's not even - there are some puffier spots - but it looks like real, store-bought yarn. I need to see how many yards there are and think about what to make with it. Suggestions??

Summer's Over

For the kids, anyway. School started on Wednesday and it's back to the routine. They both like their classes - so far. We live close to the school so they've been riding their bikes. It's good to have a schedule again.
I have been watching Dr Who on dvd. I must say that Billie Piper is really beautiful. She's so different than Hollywood actresses with their skeleton bodies and perfect teeth. After watching both seasons of her I feel a bit less bad about the filling-out I've done lately and my overbite. I haven't watched much with the other actress - I'm just through Rose and her mom (LOVE her mom) going to the parallel world. We did watch the season finale this summer which will make much more sense now that I've seen so much leading up to it. I'm addicted. I admit it.
Summer of Socks is almost over. I've made four pair and have two second socks to make - but they won't get done in time. But -- I'll have six new pairs of squishy socks to wear this winter. Yay! I didn't win any of the drawings and I won't win any of the other prizes, but that's okay. I've improved my sock-making skills alot and am pretty darn good with the DPN's.
My next adventure is the Harry Potter House Cup. It's a knitting and crochet contest (for lack of a better word) based on the sorted houses and the classes at Hogwarts - potions, herbology, etc. I'm in Ravenclaw, of course, and am anxiously awaiting the start - on September first, when Hogwarts starts. The assignments should be fun, if the conversations are correct- blending yarns and fibers for potions, nature motifs for herbology, that sort of thing. It will be fun to see what everyone comes up with.
I've been checking out the Fiber Friday posts on craftster lately - it's where spinners show off their latest creations. Wow. People are making some amazing yarns, both for knitting with and for looking at. They're using so many different rovings, threads, beads, crocheted flowers - my mind is swirling with ideas. Right now I'm combining two different rovings in one draft - naughty me - but with three spindles and Jenny's kick spindle I can really go crazy. (Hint, hint - if you have any spinning supplies you don't need, I would be happy to give them a home!) I need a great project for the handspun skeins I've collected. I really want to put them to good use and show them off.
Well, no pictures this time, sorry. I've got yardwork to do and dyeing to do (you know you want to buy some!) and school fundraising to go through - already!- so I'm off for now - and maybe I'll spend some more time with the Doctor.

I Have a New Name

Your Goth Name is:

Sullen Valhalla

What's" Your Goth Name?

I think it kind of fits! She even looks like me - in my mind, anyway.

I Won!

I enter alot of contests and drawings. I'm usually laughing as I enter because I'm generally not lucky enough to win. Imagine my surprise when I found out that I had won a prize in the Knit Girls fundraiser this summer. I got my prize in the mail today. Know what it is? A skein of Wollmeise! Yep. It's pretty, too - I've seen some skeins online that are alot of icky color combos, but this one is nice, even with the gold color. Next to the skein is the second part of my prize - a set of stitchmarkers from Celticfrog.They will be lovely for a clapotis or small-gauge sweater. I'm very tickled about winning. Yay!

I finished my Fawkes socks. I love the feel of the tencel blend yarn. It's so soft and smooth. If I had the gumption I'd make a cardi or pullover out of it - it would be so yummy to wear as a top. Heh, it would feel nice as yoga pants, too. Anyway, that makes four pair of socks this summer. Not bad. Of course, I haven't done much else, knit-wise. I'm trying for one more pair - the Dracula socks. The Summer of Socks KAL ends September first (I think), so I have a bit of time to finish them.

I'm itching to read the Harry Potter books again. Why? Well, the new movie comes out this fall and I've entered a KAL/CAL that starts as the sock one ends. It's based on Hogwarts classes and should be alot of fun. I hope they put me in Ravenclaw, but I've told the organizers that they could place me wherever needed to balance things out. I'll be jumping from footwear to magic.

Eric is home on vacation this week - it's strangely nice to have him here when I wake up.

So What's the Deal???

I put a counter on my blog. It's says that NO ONE has visited here in the past week. NO ONE. I'm still getting over the "I'm such a f*****g loser" thoughts on that - and it will take awhile. Mom and Jenny know that I struggle (alot) with depression. This does not help.

I guess I could consider this a Private site and just tell myself that only X number of people are invited - a select few.

The one thing that makes me feel alot better is a nice RAK. I got a gorgeous skein of handspun yesterday. It's lavender and yellow, slightly thick and thin texture, and alot of yards. I'll be looking at it for awhile to decide what it wants to be.

One last thought. I saw this beauty in my yard and had to take a picture.