StrungOut

Knit in the City

I just got home from KNIT IN THE CITY. I had a great time. I even saw one of my favorite bloggers there, Knit & Tonic. No I didn’t go up and introduce myself. It’s a strange feeling seeing someone you kinda know (via the internet) and realizing they haven’t a clue as to who in the hell you are. Because you practically cyber stock them by reading their blog daily.  I just made myself feel creepy and eww.  Next subject…

I came home with BAGS of goodies, patterns, even free knitting needles! This time I remembered my camera so lets get right to the photos shall we. There were many great charities there besides Susan G. Komen.

This is one. They accept any knitted, crochet or even quilted item for needy hospitalized children.  Please go to their website www.stitchesfromtheheart.org

Not far down the path was this sign that caught my eye. Of course I just had to be the first on my block to get her 2006 calender LOL. O.K. the real reason I bought it is so I can knit all my friends sweaters for theirs dogs.

Any excuse I can find to knit, this is So.Cal. like dogs here really need sweaters. I now have 12 K-9 sweater patterns.This purchase benefits Warm up America.  www.warmupamerica.org

To give you any idea of the the turn out and what the park looked like....

There even was a fashion show held here a  regular mini Hollywood bowl.

I won't bore you with a ton of pictures, as I wasn't really that impressed. There was COUNTLESS ponchos and shawls. So for those of you are are over those items I have very bad news. 

Also quite a few shrugs Which I am personally over.

To conclude my photo essay I leave you with a bit of artistic humor.

Don't ask me why this photos is on it's side I can't get it to rotate.

 

See YOU there

Saturday, October 15th, 2005, Noon - 5:00 pm
at Memorial Park in Pasadena, California
The event is open to the general public with a $5.00 suggested donation with 100% of the proceeds going to support Komen Foundation programs which support breast cancer research and treatment in our communities.

Knit in the City is a knit-out presented by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Los Angeles County Affiliate and sponsored by the Craft Yarn Council of America and The National NeedleArts Association and will feature:

• The launch of the 2nd Annual Knit for the Cure™ Campaign
• A Yarn Lounge
• Free Knitting & Crochet Lessons
• Fashion Shows
• Knitting Demonstrations & Competitions
• Knitting & Crochet Guilds and Charities
• Author's Showcase & Book Signings
• Yoga for Knitters
• & More!
• For more info
• http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_exit.asp?url=http://www.knitforthecure.com

a working computer

Gosh it’s been along time, too long since I’ve posted. But it’s not because I didn’t want to or was lazy, it was because I have had computer problems the kind I’d only wish in Osama B. To the tune of $700.00 plus (I quit counting.) That’s what Credit Cards are for, ignorant bliss. This laptop has been rebuilt. Which REALLY enrages me because I would have gladly bought a MAC if I’d have known that where this was going.

On Knitting news I have finished a few things. I just have to find and reload my photo editing software. I literally just downloaded Picasa but I can’t figure out how to size the photos, UGGHH!!

I actually went yarn nuts and spent $428.00!!! To ease my computer pain. Yes, I’m trying to send myself to debtor’s prison. That was AFTER the sale discount was taken. I didn’t take any pictures of my haul. But you can bet You’ll see the finished pics. I finished a scarf, which is made with Prism I bought 3 hanks. I have only ever knit 1 scarf in my life and I actually really like this stuff. The colors I bought are Terra Cotta (finito) Fog (1/3 done) and Tumbleweed (not started). I bought some Hannah silk too. I am also working on what was supposed to be a summer shawl, well, make that a next summer shawl, since summer is officially over.

I'm BACK

Sorry that I haven't been able to blog. But I got a phone call a few weeks ago that a friend of mine's dad was in the hospital and dying. So I take time off work, make care arrangements for my kid and animals and book a flight to AZ. When I arrive yes he's in the hospital but not hardly on deaths door. Yes, my friend is now a CONFIRMED drama Queen. He's a male and not gay but a queen none the less. I was so angry and then a few hours later relieved. I swear he's helpless. He couldn't answer one question I asked about his dad. I can't stand a helpless man. So I had to take over for his mom's sake, it was just too much for her. Both of the parents are in their 80's and the dad has been ready to die for a while. To cut to the chase he was on chloesterol lowering medication and suffered the muscle atrophy. Which is a know side effect of this type of medication.  His Primary Dr. Never informed him of the side effects nor did he check his CPK, which was off the chart.Gee, I wonder why he couldn't walk. So there goes 2 weeks and when I get home and unpack I get a phone call from another friend who has just (literally) been in a car accident. The call sounds like this... me "hello" Friend " i've been in an accident and I'm hurt call 911." I get her to tell me the location and I'm off. I had to leave my car blocks away and run to her as I called the police, 911, the fire dept. By the time i got there everything was blocked off, Yet I still beat the ambulence which was the one thing I didn't call directly. Now all I need is a vacation!!!

On to SP5

Here is my questionaire better late than never.  Thank God for cut, copy & paste.

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you? As long as it's not scratchy and rough it's cool with me. Of course i've never used any cheapo stuff yet.


2. Do you spin? Crochet?  No


3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
  cats, rabbits, horses, smoke

4. How long have you been knitting?
about 4 months

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
nope

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
  I like a wide range but Vanilla is always safe. Floral, musk, citrus…

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? 

Who doesn’t?

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Photography and home décor. I don’t have a lot of spare time.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Everthing except rap, country and opera. Yes I can play MP3’s on my computer, boom box and DVD/CD player.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
Favorite color is  a tough question for me. Clothing wise I generally where “non colors, ie: Browns, Black, white, gray. I also like greens, blues, purples. I have a constant fear that being a red head I will wear something that will clash with my hair. So I stay far away from reds and I hate orange and look sick in yellow.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
     Me & my daugher, a 14 yr old dog Barney and a cat

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
      Since you asked I’d like to buy a home before I die. With a front & back yard so I can have a garden.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
       I don’t have one yet.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
     Scratchy ones.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
     Baby stuff. Everyone I know is pregnant.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
     I’ve only made baby items. So I don’t know.

17. What are you knitting right now?
      A 80% done evening bag.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
     I like them.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
      I own both but to date I’ve only knitted on straight ones.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

      I use bamboo a lot but I like ebony better.


21. Are you a sock knitter?
      not yet

22. How did you learn to knit?
      Took lessons

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
      2 months

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
      This will be a list as I can’t decide on an all time favorite.  Cruella deville statisfies my evil side. C’mon she could/wanted kill puppies for crying out loud.  I also have a thing for Jungle book,( Baloo) The Lion king, (Pumba & Timone) Tarzan, Monsters INC….

25. What is your favorite holiday?
    Christmas, Halloween Hell I enjoy them all.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
      Anything Art deco

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
     None

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

      Vogue knitting                                 

Only in California

What a week, it’s still all a blur. Grab a cup of Joe or Tea and I’ll give you the cliff note version. I had a few things brewing at work that I needed to finish (didn’t  happen). So while I was out working Thursday an associate told me a sister of a friend had a house for sale in Eagle Rock and we should go take a peek. For some reason everyone wants me to buy a house in this insane Ca real estate market. I want to wait until prices go down…You know after an earthquake certain areas will be dirt-cheap. So we were off, as we are driving I notice we are not near Eagle Rock but we are in Highland Park. Which is East LA’s Twin. Very Low income (welfare), Gang infested, don’t go there after dark, horrid neighborhood.

Girlfriend was lied too in a big way. So we find said house, outside in desperate need of paint…. Inside surprisingly very cute but small. Back yard small but cute. We just get back in the car (which is in the driveway) when the real estate agent pulls up.

Then a Volvo with a baby seat in the back, parks. I can’t believe a white woman with a child would even consider this place. Bonus 1 block from a crappy public school. We leave and in the house they go.

On the for sale sign there’s a hotline # I can’t resist, I must find out what this crap is listed for. If you are drinking anything swallow and put it down. Are you ready.?.?

$499,000. Translation, that’s ½ a million to live in shit a small, shit at that, 2 bedrooms 1 bath. Not to mention you’ll have to dodge stray bullets on the weekend and listen to that insufferable circus music. Supposedly there’s an offer for $526,000  in utter shock I say let’s find another house for sale and call. We do 3 bedrooms 1 bath asking price $466,00 and it’s got an offer for over $500,000.

Insanity. How sad is it when I a born and mostly raised Californian can’t even afford to buy a home in a welfare district that you couldn’t give me a house to live in for free. I also make a decent living So I of course had to see if I can qualify for a loan to buy something somewhere I live now. I should know something today.  I seriously doubt I will be able to afford the morage payments.

If I’m wrong I’ll be having a huge knitting house warming party. I'll keep ya posted.

I also have a tiny home business that I’ve had for 22 years. It goes through cycles like everything else usually busy around the holidays and in the summer it’s steady. This year is starting out early, I’m booked through mid July already. So a summer vacation may not happen this year. Like it ever does LOL.

This is good as any money I make will go into my new “house fund” formerly known as my “knitting fund”.  I must admit I hate saving money. Spending it is so much more enjoyable. The older I get the more I regress.