Pixiestikz

Thrill me, chill me, fulfill me...

"So come up to the lab
And see what's on the slab
I see you shiver with antici...pation...."

Yes, I've got no FOs...but I do have progress and a bit of Rocky Horror for you today...

I'm totally loving the Somethin' Red. I've been so faithful.
She will have one mistress and no new WIPs.
See?

The Back...in cool swingy soy silk.
Which is very like ribbon yarn in a way...
Oasis doesn't give.
It's very much like merc cotton, only the texture and the feel is drapey like linen or silk.
Oh, sweet jebus she's a wench when you drop a stitch.

She gives good face though...ah!

I've tried her on...eh, a few eleventymillion times...
*wowie* I love the fit.
The Oasis is dk, so I knitted the second of the smaller sizes.
I probably could have done the smallest, but I think the difference is miniscule.

I've put aside my yearning for fair isle...I'm talking YEARNING here...YEARNING.
Yes, I admit it... I've wanted to buy the Baby Ull...I've scoured the Internet...called to verify LYS hours this holiday weekend...I've been faithful in DEEDS...just not in my mind.

Here is a taste of how my Guilt works on me...slow and insidious...like a little minion of evil on my shoulder...

"What? LYS? You know... If you go to the LYS...for the Baby Ull...you will be back in that multiple WIP dilemma! Plus, What will Red Think? You know she'll be spiteful and drop stitches again...like she did when you started the green sock and left her at home... Really, H is it worth it?"
When that fails and I'm calculating what exit off the beltway I need to take to get to the LYS by 5pm...

Guilt goes to DEFCOM 5...
"Well, a foolish, fickle, rationalizing cheating girl and her money are soon parted..."
"Didn't you just spend on Ebay for those NEEDLES?"
"Do you NEED the Baby Ull?"
"What happened to using your Stash..."
"What is this...Wool in Summer? Pish!"
"Don't say I didn't warn you..."

Gee, thanks. Okay okay!
Needless to say...I didn't get the Baby Ull...but I WILL!

While Pixie was away this holiday weekend in Upstate NY with her Pops...I spent some QT lounging by the pool, in the balmy evenings knitting on Red... DELISH.

I did say I got Ebay needles right? Well...I have two favorite kinds of needles...
*Cheap ones, erm BARGAIN ones...
*bamboo (specifically Addi Bamboos and Crystal Palace Bamboos)
I scored on both fronts!

Addi Circulars and Crystal Palace Assortment...for 22 bucks. yeah. sweet.
I fullout discoed in my living room when I won that auction.

Why, yes...that is my very own dyed yarn! Thanks for noticing!
Closer peek? So glad you asked.

I know I'm late with the PSpectrum...but meh!

Time, Shmime.
You know what Rocky says about time?

It's astounding
Time is fleeting
Madness takes its toll
But listen closely...

With a bit of a mind flip
You're into the time slip...

Anyone care to do the Time Warp? (again)

Strange things afoot at the Circle K...

Yes, Indeed they are!

I'm working on Knit and Tonic's Something Red.
I already made the Somewhat Cowl.
It appears I love her designs.
Oddly enough...
I really am enjoying the pattern.
Deja vu!

SOOOOO...The only thing I purchased at Sheeps 06 was the Southwest Trading Co.'s Oasis (Soy Silk)...
Boy, am I happy I did.
Excuse me while I pat myself of the back, for not only am I using environmentally conscious yarn...
I'm loving the feel of the knitted fabric. and the color? so rich.

I went up a size to compensate for the yarn weight... and am merrily plugging along.

Isn't she lovely??? (sing it Stevie!)
I arranged her with all my red things I had with me today... just for you!

I took a Fair Isle class with Ei last week!
Go and Check out her progress on her fair isle sock...she posted!

I've not been as ambitious as my lovely friend...but!
I've been playing around with some swatches - mostly the fair isle skull pattern from Magknits...but nothing concrete yet as far as a project...I'm going to start small and work my way up to...

Henry VIII (some day). It's my holy grail of knitting.
I think that is a pretty lofty goal, don't you?
I think everyone has a holy grail knitting pattern. Do you?
That pattern you look at often, but know you aren't ready for...

So about my darling Henry VIII...
My Main Man Hal...
I bought the out of print Starmore's Tutor Roses on ebay a while ago...
which was WHY (I kept saying over and over at Sheeps) that I didn't buy a lot at the Festival.
It was expensive. But sooooo worth every penny.
Buying the kit, however, will be monumental. and not any time soon ;)

I already started one of the Sweaters in the book (hmmm...but which one?)
Which was promptly set aside for Something Red.

I've been fanatical about what I've dubbed mistakenly, Simply Red.
Because I have just enough Mad cow to forget it's Something and not Simply.
AND due to my obsessive compulsive, effective (knit) managing nature, the Starmore Aran got sidelined.

(ps Bleh on the 80s band Simply Red...Lets just say I wasn't a fan of them. Creepy!)

Chez Pixiestikz Time WARP!
Interestingly enough...this time last year I finished my first pair of socks. hm. wow. now I'm contemplating a starmore. I rule.

My Mothers Day was pretty darn fabby.
A Breakfast in Bed, a beautiful Ben Amun locket, a petunia, and as much knitting as I could knit!

Even nature extended me a rose.

I pruned this rose bush two years ago to a stick.
It has held a grudge and not bloomed for 2 years.
This year it bloomed for me.
On Mothers day.
I think it forgave me.

Orange Feet are Happy Feet

April Project Spectrum

Yeller and Orange...

Calls for Yummy Weird Orange Produce... (AKA a Spiked Kiwi)

"So Out, they're Tres Punk..." Yellow Lacoste Izod Shoes...

Yah, those are size 12 shoes...you know what they say about Comely Gents who wear Big Shooz...
THEY GET NO HANDKNIT SOCKS!
(haha- what did you think I was gonna say??!!)

and.....(drumroll, please)
ZE ORANGE ANKLETS
Otherwise known as Tang Tropicana or Dreamsicle Socks(as they were dubbed by my coworkers)...

Completed: 2006
Yarn: KBrece Ebay Yarn
Color: ORANGE and PINK
Needle: Crystal Palace DPN US 1
Pattern: Something glommed together from Sensational Knitted Socks

In my shooz today...they are sexy.
Because it's out to be hott...and in to be Sexy.

These were so quick to knit after those 12" ribbed monstrosities that I knit (Your Tax Socks)...
I love them.
I checked this morning and Via the Magic 8 Ball... I see more anklets in my future (signs point to yes).
Bonus!...I have enough yarn to knit another pair.
I highly recommend the seller KBrece on Ebay. Good Stuff!

Check out my sis' recap of S&W weekend at Chez Pixiestikz...she outs me as a Notorious Snooze Abuser!! Which I am...This morning I hit it, er, twice? um, thrice? Pixie sleeps through it too...it must be genetic.

next up?
Spectrum Green Socks...For May.
Green is so very.
How proud am I that I just dyed some VERY green yarn?
I'm ready. Bring it.

holla!

Sheeps 2006

Every year it rolls around. Every year I get strange looks from people who ask me...
"The What Festival?!!!"

My sister Kelly makes her Annual Mecca to stay with me and catch up a whole year in a weekend.
It can be a bit of a whirlwind, but one that I am gladly caught up in.
I miss her so very much.
She's been my lifelong best friend since we were knee high to a grasshopper.
Oh, the secrets she could tell! (heehee)

Did ya know my sister is a crack shot?!
Me Neither!

I think I hugged her so tight all weekend - she went home with bruises! I loved every minute!

We dyed yarn using KnitPicks Dye Your Own and some dyes I got from Halycon yarn.
Kiwi (I went crazy with the Cheez Whiz on the green...Oops!!)
Blue Bonnet
Strawberry.
It was a lot of fun and (wow) a lot of work!

This year was made more special (is that even possible?) because Tanya made it to Sheeps.
I love this lady...she was my first secret pal for Knitters Review and that was 3 years ago!
Any chance we can, we always try to see each other, as she is also in the (somewhat) metro vacinity.
Those of you who know her, would agree that she is the very best kind of friend...one to laugh with and hug close!
Tanya is a kindred spirit and a true blue friend.

I feel I'm very blessed in my Knitty Pals.

Ei, Kelly and I met up for breakfast and at the fairgrounds found Tanya...and off we went!
(this is actually a picture of dinner! we were too busy to stop and photog!)

This year it was more relaxed and about just taking it all in and eating FRIED FREAKING TWINKIES. oh-holy-crap-in-a-can-um-yum.
We had 2 twinkie virgins with us...Tanya and Kelly. Their faces. Priceless.

I think all 4 of us are at Stash Capacity and were more selective about what we had to have...it was much more restrained than last year. (hee)

We cruised the Main Exhibition,
Got to meet up with Sherry who is an awesome lady and an inspiration!
Not seeing anything I NEEDED... I gave away a $4 internet coupon (good karma-yay) to someone in the Morehouse booth...
Then I hit Mannings up for some dpn needle keepers and white rubber markers.
(which will disappear over time like always)
Restraint? People...I showed it!

Lunch time we got to hang out with some friends and bloggers on the lawn...wow, what a crowd!
I got to see so many of the lovely knitters I visit daily via their blogs.
It was really cool to see them again.
Although I didn't see Rossana, I did look very hard for her and mentally sent her a hug... :)

So many people were wearing their knits...but Isel's Orangina was my favorite...I got to see her in it up close and personal. Gorgeous in the Rowan Cotton.

Jenna Pink Monkey (as Pixie calls her) graciously gifted me with a pink buddha...
I had recycled some moving boxes for her move...and being a sweetheart and knowing my love for all things buddha - LOOKIE - ...Isn't he cute? (erm, nice hair h.)

I totally practiced restraint. I only bought Red yarn for Something Red (and boy is it red)...some doodads and a mug and sweatshirt..which I wore yesterday to work! woot! When I came home The stash was shocked.

I had a moment of Festival Envy when I saw Lolly's Niddy Noddy...what a great thing to find!!
Everyone made out like Bandits...

Early Sunday morning, Kelly flew out and I had my midterm for school...NICE TIMING! arrgh!
No Sheeps for me on Sunday. Can you tell I was a wee bit disappointed? grrr.
So I missed hanging out with Donna on Sunday. grrr!

This was an awesome moment...
My sister at dinner tried a Cosmopolitan (tanya), A Dirty Martini (ei) and a Gin and Tonic (me). Look at her reaction...

Yuk!

I already can't wait for next year!