Domestic Geek

I've finally knit up the felted clogs I started weeks ago. All that's left to do is to actually felt them. Huzzah! I may try to squeeze in time to do it tomorrow, but with packing and getting ready to leave for Tennessee early Monday morning, I don't know if I can. I was really hoping to have them done so that I could take them on the trip, but alas, that was apparently not meant to be. I had also intended to have a crochet sun hat I'm working on completed, but like I said, not a whole lot of crafting lately.

A happy note:
Our travels this week will take us to Indiana. While inquiring on a Ravelry board as to a good area yarn shop to visit, I learned that the Yarn Harlot will be speaking in Indianapolis on Tuesday. Marcus agreed to accompany me and I get a 2nd chance to not only meet her, but perhaps even have photographic evidence, as well. Yay!

I've been wanting to make some t-shirt designs, but don't really want to invest in the materials to silk screen right now. I was reminded of a technique that I should use instead when I read the Stencils Anonymous post at Crafty Daisies. Freezer paper makes a wonderful t-shirt stencil. Must put freezer paper on this weekend's shopping list.

A week ago, I was at the Parker SnB and the owner of Purls of Wisdom, Jen, was showing me how to do a stitch in the Fiber Trends felted clogs I was starting. As she's sitting there watching me, she suddenly shrieks, "She's on the tips!" She reaches down and pushes my stitches down further on the needles. Stunned, I asked if being on the tips is a bad thing...apparently, it is. I guess it's a big factor in the huge amount of stitches I drop. Who knew? I've been doing that since my very first knitting lesson and didn't know it was wrong. I thought maybe it was just the size 13 needles I was using, but I found myself doing it this morning while working on my dishcloth with the size 6 needles. So, I've been carefully watching what I do and am trying to break the habit of knitting with the tips.

Today is the first day of being on 2nd shift at work. I actually got 8 hours of sleep last night! I think this new arrangement is going to work well. I can put my effort into things I want to do early in the day while I'm fresh and then work gets what is left later in the day. I also know that being on my more natural internal rhythm is going to do wonders for my mental health.

I'm going to be able to take better pictures of my WIPs and FOs! Thanks to my most kind, generous, loving and amazing boyfriend, Marcus, I am the new owner of a Canon SX100IS digital camera. I was so heartbroken after having no pictures from The Yarn Harlot signing that I decided I was getting a new camera with the tax rebate check in May. I spent all day Saturday and part of Sunday researching cameras. I had about five different models that I was interested in and would make up my mind in the next month. Marcus suggested we stop into Sears after lunch so I could play with cameras and help make a decision. I narrowed my choices down to two Canon models — the SX100IS and the A720IS. The first had features I really liked, but was more expensive. I decided I would get the A720IS. Well, Marcus asks the clerks if either model was in stock. They were out of the A720IS and had one SX100IS. He says we'll take it. My jaw hit the floor. I protested. I told him I could wait. I told him it was cheaper on Amazon. It's sitting here on my desk as I write. He's too good to me.

The Yarn Harlot was in town last night and I had an amazing time. She was so funny — I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. I'd share the pictures I took last night, but THEY SUCK! Once again my crappy camera decided it was going to be unable to focus. Also, I must've accidentally changed a setting, because the pictures are SMALL! I am so done with that thing. I also closed my eyes in the picture I had taken with Stephanie. I really wished I had asked Marcus to borrow his for the evening. I hope she comes back next year after her new book is released and I can try it again. By the next time, I will be making socks!

I made some good progress on my Mistake Rib Scarf I'm working on. I'm into the 2nd skein, so over 50% complete! I tried working on a dishcloth, too, but trying to follow the pattern with so much fun and excitement around me was impossible.

I'm so glad I finally decided to get off my duff and join the knitting world. Of course, Ravelry has been a huge help to entice me to leave my comfort zone and put myself out there.

Today I need to do some housecleaning and some much-needed web work so I can get Domestic Geek back up and finally finish the header I've been working on for this blog. I'll try to sneak in some time on my clogs, though, and read a little bit of Things I Learned From Knitting (Whether I Wanted To or Not) that I got signed last night.