nosierosieknits

GoodBye Blogger

2010-01-10T13:46:00.002-07:00

To all (if any) readers, I am moving. If you would like to continue reading up on my randomness, please visit http://roseunraveled.tumblr.com . Until then, Cheers!

Happiness is...

2009-11-27T15:43:00.003-07:00

Happiness is the most important thing you could ever own.

Happiness is brighter looking in the past or the future, never in the present.

Happiness is never bought or given but can be taken away easily.

Happiness is often confused with comfort.

Happiness is not equal to, greater than, or less than any other person's happiness.

Happiness is fleeting.

Inspiration

2009-08-18T22:00:00.004-06:00

I never have trouble finding inspiration around me, but by far, being social is the biggest inspiration I could ever have. A lot of people see me as an antisocial or "human hater," but I've come to realize, that I just don't like people my age. Throughout my whole life, I have had friends much older than myself. It seems the older I get, the wider the gap between my friends and myself. I think this is partially due to the youngest child curse. Or, it may also be due to the fact that I 1)knit 2)have bad knees and silly ailments and 3) am named Rose (i.e. I am an old lady at heart). Now, some of my best friends are in their sixties, and I would not exchange their friendship for all of the 23 year olds in the world.

I've recently begun knitting with a group of ladies in Denver. Their ages range from early 50s to mid 80s, and I always return home so elated after a visit. Since my visit with them on Saturday, the inspiration has been flowing out of my fingertips. I've knit two scarves and a bag, and it's not over yet! I have so many ideas, excitements, aspirations, and patterns bouncing around in my head! Where's my paper! Why can't I work faster?

One great thing about having older friends is they've already experienced so much of life. They are always truthful, yet caring; short, yet understanding. They tell the best stories, have the best comebacks, and they never ever miss a beat. I am constantly giggling during their "open" conversations. I know I can always complain about new-fangled technology and kids these days without someone getting their feelings hurt.

Not only do they offer great insights in to the world, but they are always there to support you. Do you need a great neurologist? One of them knows the best. Need to learn a certain cast on? They've all tried at least five. Want to know the truth about those two colors you put together? Just ask the one that knows all about color. Need to sell your recycled yarn somewhere? She has a show every year. It's just so awesome! I hope I can be friends with these women for the rest of my life.

Plus, I know that I will always have wonderful food and plenty to bring home to the husbeast.

REALLY?!

2009-08-09T15:15:00.003-06:00

Today I went to a lovely craft fair in Denver. Boy are those things dangerous for me. Upon arrival I met the woman who had organized it. We got to talking about the organization and yarn and...She actually knew who I was from etsy (which was surprising) and asked me if I had gotten an invitation to be a vendor. I said I hadn't, to which she replied that she remembered that she didn't invite me because she didn't feel recycled yarn was "handmade." She asked me if I made anything else. Of course I make other things. But my question is, why isn't recycled yarn handmade?

I asked her if she thought the people who dye pre-made yarn are "handmaking" something. She said yes. I was confused. How is dyeing a pre-made yarn any less commercial than unraveling a sweater? Well, I guess I can understand. You are choosing your own colors when you dye. It's like painting on a premade canvas. Yet I still don't understand how making yarn out of something that would have been shredded is not crafty.

She said she "didn't want to have any vendors that had something that people can just go home to make." WTF? How many people do you know who go home and unravel a sweater to make yarn? Not many, I tell you. I admit, I am not the first person to think of making recycled yarn. People have been reusing wool for centuries, but they have also been knitting, crocheting, weaving, spinning, and dyeing for centuries. How am I any different?

Maybe I will just start dyeing my unraveled yarn to become more "handmade."

Wow....

2009-08-06T13:47:00.004-06:00

Wow..yeah. I am like the worst blogger ever. Oh well. Life's been great lately. A couple of weeks ago I went to Bellingham, WA to visit my friend Sam's family. It was soooooo awesome. I have never eaten so many berries in my life! In fact, I don't think I had ever eaten a berry off the bush/vine before (other than a wild raspberry once). They are AMAZING! I want to move to the Pacific Northwest now, just to have fresh berries every summer.

Today I start a new "job." I wouldn't even call it a job actually. It's just fun. I am now working at Purls of Wisdom yarn shop in Parker, CO. I found the job listing on craigslist while perusing for "real jobs" and couldn't help applying. Needless to say, I got the job.

(It must be noted that I feel some guilt about "cheating on" Edla in Walsenburg, but I still hold loyal to her. She is and always will be my idea of knitting nirvana. It's just that now I live farther away, and I really wanted this job! Haha.)

As for the rest of my life, I've been ripping out sweaters like a crazy addict. I want to be more serious about this little business. Also, I've been studying a lot for the GRE *gag* because I've been communicating with an awesome lady that is a major source of inspiration. I think Minnesota may be in my future. If it's possible that is. It's hard to get funding to go to Grad school these days when everyone else wants to go too.

Truthfully, there is so much going on lately, that I constantly fear I am forgetting something. So much to knit! So much to unknit! So much to study, and so much to be excited about!

Working Hard

2009-06-03T11:01:00.002-06:00

This Saturday, May 30th, I was a vendor at the Spring Yarn Event hosted by BagsbyCab. Now, I am not going to say it was a total flop. I had a lot of fun, and there were a lot of really neat people around. It was however, not successful on the monetary end. I shouldn't get too excited/let down because my first show selling yarn was unsuccessful, but I know that I need to "up the ante" as it were. This means that I need to be more serious about selling myself.

I have a few ideas of my own, but do any of you have ideas for me? What are some ways you think I can make my business better?

On another note, Ryan and I went to visit my parents a few weekends ago, and I just wanted to show you how beautiful the place is.

Big Horn Sheep on the road.

Our house

Silver Mountain

Big huge amphibole

Another of Silver Mountain

Rose is Not Meant to Run

2009-05-18T12:17:00.005-06:00

Being locked in doors for days on end can drive a girl mad. Especially a girl who loves rocks, walks, and knitting socks? (Couldn't help the rhyme) She goes so mad that she thinks she can run. I've never ever been a runner. I'm just not built for it. Everyone has always told me that, and I've always believed it. One day, I came upon this and decided I was going to be a runner. Not much of a runner, just a runner.

I worked on this on and off for about two months, without any problem. Last week, Ryan and I decided to go rockhounding on his one day off, and my knee was aching from all of the in-the-car-sitting. I thought nothing of it. Two days later I decided to pick the old running up again. BAD. About 15-20 minutes in, it was pure pain. The rest of the night was pure pain, and I am still hurting. It's Monday. It's been nearly a week.

My knees have quite the history. They've been crunched, dislocated, surgerized, therapized, redislocated, tackled, swollen, etc. I've never had this same pain though. The shooting pains up to my hip make me nervous, and I don't know what to do. On my visit to Walsenburg this weekend, I told my parents about my knee. Of course they told me that I am not a runner, but I can't help but retaliate. How can I not be a runner? How is it that I can't even try to be runner? I am sure my "forefathers" were runners. They had to be, at some point right?

Oh well. So instead of trying to run, I am just going to be working on this:

That oughtta help my knees right? Hahaha.

Hello the interwebz

2009-05-12T07:32:00.003-06:00

I just wanted to say that yesterday was the beginning of something great. We got the internet in our own home! Amazing!

Yesterday I posted some gorgeous angora yarn with my new found surfing abilities.

J O B-my personal resume

2009-04-27T10:29:00.005-06:00

I never thought I would be so happy without a job. I've worked my whole life. Except for the summer between my senior year of high school and my freshman year of college, I've never gone without a job.

My first job was babysitting a 2 year old boy in the back of an office building while his mother, grandmother, and the rest of the workers carried on with their day in the front of the office. I believe I was 12 years old. I got paid something like 2.50 per hour cash. It was pretty nice to have money at 12 years old, but I am not sure it was worth watching Bambi every single day for months at a time. I never liked Bambi. So, as a compromise, we would only watch Bambi if we watched something else first. Pretty much I got paid to watch Disney movies all day.

By my freshman year in high school, I decided I wanted a different job, and I happened to get my version of a dream job then. I worked for a fossil shop that happened to be located in Walsenburg. I've always liked rocks. This job was freaking awesome. They had dinosaur eggs, megalodons, cave bears, fossilized crabs, insects preserved in amber, everything! It was amazing, and all I mostly did was tape packages, organize files and rocks, and clean up. I didn't get paid much ($5 cash per hour), but I loved it. I loved my boss too. It was fun. Then they opened a Nature Store in Walsenburg, and I got to be the cashier. Wow. That was great. I love dealing with money, rocks, and minerals! I won't delve in to the awful situation when I got *gulp* fired, but I would take that job back any day. Maybe for more than $5 an hour though.

There was a short stint where I worked at Subway, but that's not even worth talking about.

Actually, I did work between my senior/freshman year. I may not have gotten paid, but I worked at Edla's yarn shop. I worked at Edla's from my junior year of high school to my freshman year in college. That was yet another dream job. Boy, it was wonderful. I got to knit all day, play cashier, and get discounts on yarn. I even got to teach some people how to knit! That was fantastic. Spending time with Edla is one of my favorite past times. I never thought I would have a best friend that was decades older than I. Once again, another job I would happily go back to if I could.

In college I had a few different jobs. First off, I worked as a student technical aid in the Information Technology Services Help Desk. That was a joke. I can use a computer, but I am not a computer person. I can't really help people with their problems. The only good quality I had for that job was the ability to offer good customer service, put the person on hold, and then tell someone else to help this person because I had no idea what I was doing.

Then I became a Writing Center peer tutor. Now that I think back on it, I've had some pretty sweet jobs. I had to take a class and do a practicum, but this was the best group of people I will probably ever work with. They all liked writing, they all liked reading, they liked discussing good ways of tutoring, writing, reading, etc. I worked there throughout college. The best part however, was getting to help students become better writers. Some of these kids had the best ideas! It was always so exciting.

Another job I had at Colorado College was for the Geology Department. I cut rocks, organized structure data, looked at thin sections in the microscope, wrote grants, put polygons on a map, made a poster, wrote some papers. This was a great job for opportunity, geologic development, and inspiration.

I got laid off of my most recent and first actual job, but I feel it's too soon to talk about what kind of job that was. All I have to say now is, I love not having a job for the first time in my life.

We're now open

2009-04-08T07:56:00.004-06:00

I've opened up the new shop. So far it seems to be getting a lot more hits than my old shop. It seems like there are a lot more knitters than anything, so why not sell to them rather than compete with them? A lot of Etsy knitters have better ideas and products than I do anyway. Don't get me wrong, I am going to continue with nosierosie, but I am going to put a lot more effort in to rosesbloom.

Lately I've been stuck in a funk. I am not sure if it's related to the lay off, but I am just losing my faith in humanity (well, what little faith I had in the first place). It's becoming more and more of a dog eat dog world, and all along I was hoping this economic downturn/fall would improve our sense of community, not ruin it. I know it's probably partly psychological, just like having a bad day. Once so many people do bad things around me, all I notice is how awful humanity is. Hopefully I am just delusional.

Whoops, I was so busy complaining about humanity, that I forgot to give you a little visual treat. Here are some of my yarns:

To Begin Anew

2009-03-30T16:07:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow I officially get laid off. As soon as I walk out the door, I am LAID OFF. Though many people feel sympathy for me, I however, do not. I am young. This was my first real job. It wasn't my dream job. I don't have any kids. I have no debt. I have good health. I own a car and have no mortgage to pay. I can easily live off of Ryan's income and my unemployment. Life is good. Keep on chuggin, right?

Actually, I am quite pleased. This means I am going to have more time to think about myself, my future, and my crafting! In suit of the "economic crisis" I began recycling sweaters! I am so excited about this. I go to the thrift store, find some fantastic sweaters with rich colors, nice yarns, and good seams for ripping, and away I go! I've gone through 5.5 sweaters already. Two were flops because I didn't quite know how to rip out a sweater yet. Now I've got it down, and I am cooking with gas! I believe I am going to open up another etsy shop to sell these gorgeous yarns. Hopefully this will help me out in my own personal "economic crisis." HAH!

First, I need to buy or make one of these. Then, I need to take some pictures with my fancy new camera. Of course, there is a lot of work to do, but this is work I enjoy!

Wish me luck. Pictures to come.

I know I know

2009-02-14T09:28:00.004-07:00

I am so bad at posting!

Lately I've been kinda bummed. Maybe that's why I haven't been posting. (That and not having internet at home.)

I know, I should be happy, but I'm not really all that happy. Ryan's band HAVOK got signed to a record label. This is the same record label as a lot of really great metal bands. I am sure most of you, readers, don't care about metal, but we do.

Ryan has dreamed of being a famous/touring/recording drummer probably since before he started playing drums. With havok, he's been so close for so long that I almost didn't believe that it was going to happen; but it did. YAY! Here is a picture of him playing.

It is ridiculously hard to get a good picture of the drummer, let me tell you.
Now Ryan is on tour. He left me for valentine's day. :( Oh poor me. I get to hang out with one of my best pals in Colorado Springs now!

Funny story that....

2009-01-28T17:59:00.002-07:00

This weekend was a strange weekend (and I know it is also strange that I am writing about my weekend all the way on Wednesday. Please excuse the lateness.).
First, my buddy Sam, previously mentioned, was coming up on Friday evening, so Ryan and I had to clean like crazy. Our house was a wreck. I was too busy making her a pair of socks to eat, sleep, or clean. Upon Sam's arrival, we went to the Cherry Cricket (my favorite bar joint) and then to some thrift stores. I think I had too much beer at the Cherry Cricket, but more on that later.

On Saturday, we got up, made pancakes, and then chaperoned Sam to the Dazbog on Colorado. After which we spent the whole day thrift store shopping. I was on a MAJOR kick. At about 2pm (?) after perusing the big HUGE goodwill on Broadway, leaving the store, and arriving at a Salvation Army, I realized...WHERE'S MY PHONE!

We looked in the car. We looked in the Goodwill. We called a million times. We asked the front desk people. We took a break and ate the Persian Gourmet because I had majorly low blood sugar. I cussed. We went to the first thrift store we visited to see if it happened to be there. Nope. We called and called. Finally, a little girl (10-12 yrs old) answers the phone when Ryan was calling.

She says hello, he says "where are you standing, this is my phone."

Click.

I call. She answers. I put on my sweetiepie voice because I realize immediately that it was a young human.
"Hello?" she says.
"Hi, where are you sweetie?"
"At home."
"Is your mom home?"
"No"
"Is your dad home?"
"No"
Then I hear some adult woman yelling.
I excitedly say, "There's your mom! Let me talk to her."

Click.

We called a million more times to no avail. Hmmm. I luckily had my two year upgrade waiting for me, so going to the Cherry Creek mall to buy a new phone from verizon wasn't all that painful.

Now that that fiasco was over, we did our whatevers we did that night. The next day I was planning on going to my cousin's daughter's first birthday. Then I was going to get my haircut in Boulder.

I could not find my keys. Anywhere.

I looked and looked and looked. Yet again, to no avail. I've never lost my phone or keys before like this...so this was some kind of record for me. Thing is, I can't leave my apartment complex without me keys. It's not a matter of locking the door, it's a matter of doors being locked no matter if you are going in or out. I couldn't unlock the gate to even get out of the apartment facility. I couldn't go outside to see if my keys were locked in my car. Lucky me. Cancel party. Cancel haircut. Finally, I escaped by waiting for the next car to open the gate and running before it closed. How silly.

It took me until about 7pm on Sunday to realize that I had drunk so much beer at the Cherry Cricket, that I left my keys there. :/

My favorite

2009-01-21T08:42:00.003-07:00

I just wanted to show you all my ultimate favorite picture of my mom and I. Wow. What a wonderful lady.

From wedding

Check out my fancy bouquet!

Up to no good

2009-01-20T07:53:00.005-07:00

I haven't been taking pictures of knitting lately, but that is because I've been so busy photographing children. There are so many beautiful children around me, in my family, that I can't help but snap a picture. Like this one:

Or this one:

I think it's the child in me. I really wish I still could be fancy free and careless. Thing is, I was never that kind of child anyway. I used to worry so much about the rainforest, endangered animals, and genocide that I wouldn't be able to sleep, or I would always wake up worried. So I guess I wish I could be some other child.

I've been knitting like CRAZY lately. Saturday was Krista's Pajama Jam at the Lambshoppe. If you live in or near Denver and you knit, you MUST go to the Lambshoppe. I knit from about 5pm to 11pm at the Pajama Jam, and it was a total blast.

In addition to social knitting, I have a lot of "secret" thank you socks that I am knitting. These socks are going out to the woman who married my husband and I, our shared best friend, the woman who did my hair, her boyfriend (whom I have been pals with since the dawn of time), and the photographer. I have so many great friends who put their time, effort, and even money in to the success of Ryan and my wedding. Who wouldn't want thank you socks right? I hope so.

The first pattern is Simply Ginny by Anna Peck. She has a great blog. Go check it out! I believe she has a wedding coming up here soon too. Good luck Anna, and thanks for the great pattern!

Finally

2009-01-12T12:34:00.003-07:00

Many many things have been going on since about October, but now the storm is finally calming.

Things that have happened in the past three months:
Got married
Went on a honeymoon
Thanksgiving madness
Big craft fair at Colorado College
Moved to a different apartment (that has a very minimal internet connection)
Christmas (multiple family visits)
Cat got a big scratch in the eye
Bought a Nikon D40

So, finishing with that last thing that happened. I have a snazzy new camera! Now I can take actually nice pictures for blog posts, patterns, and etsy items. Hopefully this will keep me motivated to do all of these things.

I have been knitting like a maniac lately.
I knit these socks:

From knits

I also knit one of these for Laura Bigger (my pal who is currently in New Zealand):
Tudora

I finished Ryan's socks that I started back in Sweden.
I made myself a cloche...to be felted. (Pattern coming soon)
Now I am on to a pair of socks for another pal. The one who married us.

From wedding stuff

This is the pattern:
Simply Ginny

Alright, that's all for now!

I'm baaaaack. I think?

2008-11-20T11:29:00.004-07:00

Sorry about the lack of postage.
We just got back from our honeymoon. It received mixed reviews, what with the forced night in Chicago due to bad weather, the breakage of the computer, the always being lost, and the over packed hostels in Copenhagen, but also the beautiful scenery, the better than expected weather, the perfect train trips, the nice people speaking our language, the great friends we made, and the (mostly) good food.
I won't bore you with the details, but here are some pictures.
Please excuse the quality of the pictures, for we don't have a fancy camera (and I am very shaky)

Ode to one month

2008-10-08T10:18:00.003-06:00

I know this post is not craft related, but I just wanted to give a little shout out (or rant at) to having one month left before my wedding. (Actually, according to my blog day counter majiger, I only have 20-something days.)

Oh, people who don't RSVP and expect me to automatically know they are coming, how I love thee. Your lack of motivation to write down your name, place a checkmark in the correct box, and put the prepostaged postcard in the mail truly inspires me.

Oh undergarment, why did I have to lose thee? Your smooth white surface made my white skin surface much smoother, but somehow you got away from me. Someone must have proven their love for you was greater than the $84 I spent on you.

Oh family, how you have proven time and time again that your personalities improve with the impending wedding. Your new indecisiveness, nonacceptance of my ideas, and questioning of everything I say has created a wonderful atmosphere for our marriage. In fact, everything gets done so much quicker because of you.

Oh announcements, if only you could make and send yourselves so I don't have to make you and send you to hundreds of people who will happily be disappointed that I didn't invite them to the big event. Hopefully you will be compared to the mass of invitations I sent out and cause much jealousy and indignation.

Oh flabby arm skin, how I look forward to showing you to everyone who comes to the wedding. You are a true inspiration to silly putty and jello everywhere.

Oh Colorado weather, how your unpredictability has helped the planning of this ceremony. I never know what you will do, so I get to have the pleasure of planning two weddings: one inside and one outside. I am so excited to see whether it will be a 70 degree day or snowing.

Oh full time job, how I've enjoyed stressing out for weeks trying to make up overtime so I can go on my honeymoon. I love spending so much time with you, especially when I have a Grandmother with cancer, a mom having surgery, and a wedding to plan.

Oh headaches. You are the best of them all. You always come when the time is right. When I need to concentrate the most, you are there. When I am upset, you are there. When I haven't slept enough, you are there. When I think about anything too much, worry, get sad, or eat too much sugar, you are there for me. Thank you.

Rainy Days Make for Knitting Happy

2008-08-17T09:04:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, since the day was rainy and cold (in AUGUST!) and was at work Ryan at work, I knit. It was a great feeling. I haven't been knitting up to my usual snuff lately, and I finally finished one of my experimental flowers for my bouquet.

It took me a really long time to get this peony done because I was skeptical of the pattern. I have always had issues following patterns. Not because they are hard, but because I have had so many bad experiences where the designer didn't even actually knit the object he/she is claiming to have designed, where the pattern tells you to knit something that is totally unrelated to what you want the actual product to be.

This pattern though, was amazingly intricate, and I enjoyed it very much. Never would have I thought to design the flower in such a way. It appears to me that the designer must have a true appreciation for both the biology and the knitting. Thanks Noni Designs!

Now I must felt it, but that won't come until I go home to my parents' house for the weekend. I live in a lowly apartment without a washing machine capable of felting wool beautifully.

I leave you with more peony pictures.

Wedding Plannage

2008-08-02T07:52:00.002-06:00

I've decided that my niece, Robin, and nephew, Diego will be my flower girl and ring bearer.

I'm pretty excited about their cuteness in fancy dresses and tuxes.

On that note, I knit the outside of Diego's ring bearer pillow. They are made with this pattern

Here's a preview:

Of course they still need blocking and everything. If you hadn't noticed, these look a little bit like the washcloths I was knitting last summer, but these are slightly fancier, what with the poinsettia and the bamboo/nylon yarn.

I thought I was smart, and I was going to skip the gauging and make one half of the pillow with a different yarn than bonsai. I was mistaken. These two yarns were not similar enough, and they ended up turning out to be VERY different sizes.

That doesn't work when you have to sew two halves to make one pillow.

This way worked out better anyway because Ryan's ring is Rose Gold (represented by the richer gold yarn half) and my Ring is White Gold (represented by the champagne yarn side). This better represents our rings, and therefore the two halves that come together to become one (pillow).

Very Late Update

2008-07-31T21:42:00.003-06:00

Here's what I've been up to lately:

Here is a little snapshot of what my nights have consisted of as of late. I've made my own wedding invitations with the help of a few people.

I feel like the invitations are best looking when you see a huge pile of them. Life has been a bit stressful lately, what with the having a full time job and trying to make all of my own invitations. I wish I could be sending more invitations to more people because I love a big party, but alas, the building can only hold 150 people. Plus, if I have to glue another piece of cardstock on another piece of cardstock, I might go insane.

On the up and slightly sideways side, we got a Kitty!

Actually we are borrowing him. I think. His name is Gringo, and he is a little country bumpkin. By the way, that black spot on his nose is not dirt, it's a kitty FRECKLE! Yes, we have a strawberry blonde, green eyed, freckled cat.

With this cat in a new environment, 18 days straight of 90º and above temperatures, and the lack of cooling ability our third-floor ac-lacking apartment has, sleep has not come easy.

Blah Blah Blog.

2008-06-29T12:49:00.003-06:00

I haven't really been writing much. I also haven't been knitting as much as I would like to be. I have no pictures to show you, and nothing exciting to tell. I have been hanging out with Ryan a lot. He is going on tour with HAVOK on tuesday for two weeks, so I have feared wasting a spare moment.
Sunday is my birthday, and for the first time in my life, I know what I want. When my mom called up, I already had a list of present ideas in my mind. That has never happened before, and everyone has always complained about my "buy-for-ability." Usually I feel guilty and insecure telling people what I want or I don't have any clue what I need, but this year, since I am out on my own, making my own money (and rarely spending it), I can happily tell people what I want.

Here is my list:
an apron
plain shirts for work
shoes
anything having to do with a house (silverware, pots/pans, napkins, etc)

I started listening to audiobooks while drawing maps at work. It is a wonderful way to pass the time, and I get to read books I have wanted to read for years but never had time to get around to. I listened to Mansfield Park, and now I am on to Uncle Tom's Cabin. The best thing about Librivox is that all of the books are classics! I love reading classics the most. Plus, it's free and the readers are awesome. I want to be a volunteer librivox reader!

Alma Mater

2008-05-19T20:04:00.006-06:00

I graduated today. I am so relieved, but I always have rough nights before a big day like this. The thought of thousands of people looking at me gives me bad dreams and nervous twitches. It was also really REALLY hot today. It was over 85º today, and it is only May. You can only imagine how I felt next to the other 560 students in a black polyester robe and a black dress beneath. Bad choice. It's over now. I am soooo relieved. Now Bloom and I are sitting in our apartment, vegging out. I can't even think right now, so I will show you a few pictures.

Packin' up and shippin' out.

2008-05-11T11:18:00.004-06:00

I am graduating from Colorado College with a Bachelors of Arts in Geology in about a week, but I will be done with school by Wednesday, May 14th, 2008. I've been doing a lot of knitting and a lot of packing.
Since Bloom and I are going to be living in to our first apartment together, we are in need of a lot of household items. Currently, I am knitting a throw for our brand new/used couch. It is made out of some of my left overs. Bloom calls it "old lady." Well, gee, sorry if multiple colors of left over yarn don't go that well together.

What else, well, I knit some mittens, a spidery scarf, and another apple baby hat while I was hanging out with my mom after she had her surgery. Every time I go "home" to Walsenburg, I always get a lot of knitting done. That's probably because there is nothing else to do.

Like a Pig

2008-04-17T18:34:00.004-06:00

Bloom's been working all day. So that means that I have had all day to knit. Woohoo! Usually I would be in school today, but I am on block break (a five day break between each intensive 3.5 week course). It is so nice to have a few days off. I worked on my lace today, but I also made the berroco dizzy hat using BOHO. I loved it! I sat all day long, barely eating anything just so that I could finish this hat. Wow. I am slightly insane.

Kickin' A** and Takin Names

2008-04-13T11:08:00.003-06:00

Not really. I've just been doing a lot of knitting and taking a lot of pictures. I am in a relatively easy (time flexible) class in which I can manage a lot of knitting time. It's great. I've also joined ravelry. I think stated that in the last blog post, but I just love it so much! So many patterns. So many ideas. Never enough time!
I've been experimenting a bit.

envirocraft

2008-03-18T15:32:00.003-06:00

Ryan and I have been collecting plastic bags and pop tops for MONTHS now! Finally, we have enough for me to make some belts and bags. I've made a few pop top belts now, but I just can't figure out a good closure for them. Also, I had an idea of making them into headbands! Ryan thinks they will pull hair, but they don't at all. I wore one for a few hours the other day. YAY! I am glad that I found a new way of cutting plastic bags so they aren't time consuming. My friends and I spent just a few hours and probably cut over forty bags together. Now I can knit with no restraint! So, here are some pictures of my efforts.

New Discovery

2008-03-16T21:25:00.003-06:00

I've newly discovered and been accepted into RAVELRY! Oh Boy, do I love it. I have wasted many precious knitting moments looking at Ravelry this week instead of actually knitting. What a LAME-O.
I went to the LambShoppe last night for the Pajama Jam. This was the first time, and most definitely not the last! It's a great way to waste my hours without Ryan. He's been working nights at the Radisson, and doesn't get home until midnight on Saturdays. What better activity than the Pajama Jam! I just wish it happened every saturday instead of every third saturday of the month. Oh, by the way, I have NEVER seen so many knitters in one room in my life!

HAVOK

2008-03-09T18:50:00.005-06:00

Went to a great show last night. HAVOK is a colorado thrash metal band featuring my boyfriend as drummer. Last night they had a kick of the tour show. Many people came, and all have fun. It was sooooo great! The sound was better than any other HAVOK show I've seen, and the pit was especially brutal.
Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment.

Ryan and I selling merch

bangin

getting kicked off the stage

Looooooooooong Time

2008-03-01T13:43:00.002-07:00

Wow, it's been a VERY LONG time since I posted. I guess life took me on a separate path from my computer over the past few months. I haven't even been knitting much recently either. I've been working on the lace scarf (still) and began making a sweater for a friend. This is the first sweater I have EVER made. Good luck to me!

Knitting Knitting Everywhere, and Not a Stitch to Spare!

2007-11-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

In preparation for the Colorado College Arts and Crafts Sale 2007, I have been knitting up a storm and making a mess of my room!

I am so excited for this sale because it's my last! So sad. I'm telling you though, it's hard to have all of this knitting in a single dorm room. Soon I will be waking up in a pile of it!

knitting some lace

2007-11-13T22:22:00.000-07:00

And man is it hard! I've never knit lace before, but I have been craving a new challenge as of late. I decided to try lace. This is 100% wool, doubled, and knit on size 5 needles. Painful, yet so beautiful!

baby sherbet

2007-10-11T14:26:00.000-06:00

I made some booties and a hat. The pictures make them look washed out, but they are beautiful colors! They just make me think of sherbet!

Etsy again?

2007-10-11T13:12:00.000-06:00

Quite a few of my Etsy items expired last week. I am trying to decide if I want to relist them or not. Is it worth relisting something if it didn't sell the first time? I like Etsy a lot, but I only made one real sale on it (the other was a custom order), and it seems like there is too much competition for a plain jane knitter like me to be on there.

Should I or shouldn't I relist?

Yippee!

2007-10-08T16:56:00.000-06:00

I'm engaged! I'm engaged! YAY!
Here's my beautiful ring:

We are planning on getting married at the Denver Butterfly Pavilion.
Now, I have much planning to do. We will be getting married in October of 2008. I know, it seems a little early to be planning so extensively, but I don't have a lot of money, and the more I spread it out, the less I have to spend at once.
I am making my own invites!

busy with customs

2007-10-05T06:44:00.001-06:00

Right now I have so many projects lined up!

1. orange, fuzzy, mohair armwarmers for Keli
2. fingerless gloves with poptop mitten for my aunt's friend
3. fixing the length of sleeves on two sweaters for my mom's friend
4. fix the the thumb length on the bf's gloves
5. a knit-felt fedora for Shirley
6. three hats for a new customer
7. socks for a professor
8. socks for a doctor

Wow! I wish I had more time.

Mittens!

2007-09-30T22:46:00.000-06:00

I've started school again, and I have found myself lacking etsy/blogging/knitting time. It's quite a bummer. For the last month I have been traveling around the country and to Canada as well! On my drive to Canada, I managed to knit these:

They are for Ryan the bf. I made him a pair last year, but they were far too delicate (made of cashmere and merino). This year, I made them out of a burlier 100% wool. Hopefully they will last this year!

AWAY!

2007-09-09T23:43:00.001-06:00

I am going to Washington state and Vancouver tomorrow. I will be gone for two weeks and two days. I will miss etsy and my blog very much, especially considering the fact that I will not bathe or sleep in a bed for the next two weeks. I will surely miss everything here in Colorado Springs, but boy am I EXCITED!

purple purse

2007-09-05T12:54:00.000-06:00

I just found a purse I made awhile back and just listed it. It's so fun! Please enjoy the picture!

Too Busy

2007-09-01T17:54:00.000-06:00

Well, I've been wandering around the state (Colorado) trying to prepare for school. I went to Jena's (my sister) house, my parents' house, and my grandmother's house in the past week. We had to put my dog, LuLu, down on Wednesday, and life has just been a mess in general. Right now I am loading and unloading, packing and unpacking my stuff to move into my dorm room. I'm in! Back to school on Monday. I am sure I will be posting again in a few days. I've knit many things!

I ♥ Noro yarn

2007-08-26T12:01:00.000-06:00

I made some socks (well one and a half of another) as a custom order for my aunt. She wanted me to knit a pair of socks for her friend, Karen, who never wears any socks. My aunt figured she would wear a pair of nice home made socks ^_^. Tete (my aunt) picked out some beautiful Noro yarn. I know this is a chunky yarn for socks, but OH HOW I LOVE IT!! If I had more money, I would knit everything out of it.

"Vacation"

2007-08-22T09:15:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted in awhile. I've been in South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and a little bit of Idaho for the past six days. Now I am back in Colorado, capable of accessing a computer. Ryan (the bf) and I decided to go on a week long "vacation"/camping trip. We had a lot of fun. First, we went to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. That was by far both of our favorite place. There were HUGE pegmatites and granites with mica, feldspar, quartz, and black tourmaline. Wow, it was amazing. Mount Rushmore was neat and all, but I liked the surrounding geology much better than some carving in a mountain. That's just me though.

Next we drove to Glacier National Park in Montana. That was a long drive, so we stopped at a lake made from daming the Mississippi River in Helena, MT. We were both confused by the lack of mountains and hazy sky that day. While were driving through Montana to Glacier, we saw no mountains. Just fields upon fields of hay. Where were the mountains! about 17 miles away from the park, we finally saw the mountains. And they were LARGE and BEAUTIFUL! There are three huge fires in Montana right now. One in Glacier National Park. The reason we couldn't see any mountains was because the haze was too thick to see them through!

Glacier was neat. There was only ONE hiking trail to a glacier in the whole park though. (even though there are probably 10 glaciers in the park, only one may be accessed I guess). We tried to get there, but the hike was 12 miles one way, and we only had time for 12 miles total. It was a very nice hike though.
We left Glacier and headed toward CO. We stopped in Montana to camp one more time between two lateral moraines. It was windy there and the smoke was so thick that my eyes and throat were burning.

Ryan wanted to drive through Idaho so that we could say we had been through four states on our trip. We drove through a piece of Idaho, and saw the Teton Mountain Range on our way back through Wyoming. Those are so stark and fantastic. These are mainly sedimentary mountains caused by a normal fault. Wow! That doesn't happen all that much.

Anyway, we are back in Colorado now. It's nice to be home, even though I still have to sleep on the ground.

Fedora

2007-08-12T16:43:00.000-06:00

Ryan (the bf) knit and felted himself a fedora from my folk hats book! Go check it out!

I think it looks great. I think I should make a few of them! What do you think?

FIRST SALE!

2007-08-10T11:00:00.000-06:00

I made my first sale this week. And I am SO HAPPY! I feel a little sorry for the customer because she didn't pay me right away (which is alright), but I think I bombarded her with 2-3 emails. I was worried that she hadn't REALLY bought the carrot cake hat. I am sure all other online craft sellers know the feeling. I always fear that someone will pretend to buy something, but never pay for it.

Here's the hat I sold:

Oh, and now I am about to have my SECOND sale. It's another hat. It was a custom order for a friend of the family. Her husband has a head too large for most hats, so I made him a big one!

Moebius

2007-08-09T10:48:00.000-06:00

I tried my first Moebius piece from my new book "The Second Treasury of Magical Knitting" (look below), and I am not even going to post a picture of it. I guess it wasn't too bad looking. I think I actually thought up a new design. The "scarf" ended up being too long to wear regularly, but when I wrapped it around my neck twice, it was great! It reminded me (and everyone else in the house (of which there are 4)) of cowl neck sweaters. I wore it around the house for awhile, and regardless of the heat of the day, it was quite comfortable! So while it may not be the best looking thing I have made, it has truly inspired me to KNIT SOME MORE!
Too bad I have to work and make a GSA poster.

New books and more washcloths

2007-08-07T17:27:00.000-06:00

My aunt Gay bought me two knitting books for my birthday! One is a folk hat book and the other is moebius designs. I love them both so much! They are very neat. I can't wait to get crackin on some of the designs. I usually have trouble with patterns not being correct or slightly off from what they should have been, but I have high hopes for these books. ^_^
I have some more washcloths done too! I am thinking about selling sets of handmade soaps and washcloths at my next craft fair. What do you think?

Clothes?

2007-08-05T07:48:00.000-06:00

I did it! I've submitted! I've begun knitting washcloths. Washclothes? I don't know. Anyway, despite the fact that knitting washcloths is like the infamy of old lady knitting, it's SO FUN! I'm already on my third...started yesterday.

Time-free

2007-08-01T15:16:00.000-06:00

I have had absolutely no time to knit! I'm so sad, life has just been so crazy lately. Too much working, too much being sick. Too much cupping, too much bike wrecking!
I really wish I could be knitting right now, but I am soooo worn out.
I NEED to knit!

Two things I really want to knit:

Nautiloid

PUMPKINS!

yucky

2007-07-25T19:47:00.000-06:00

It has not been a good week for miss nosierosie. As you can see below, I feel off my bike and hurt myself. On Saturday I went to Walsenburg, CO (my hometown) to see my parents and get a massage. What I got was not a massage at all. I got CUPPING!
Does this look like it felt like a massage?

If you are too lazy to click on the cupping link, I'll tell you about it. It's hundreds of years old. It's an old chinese acupressure healing method where the healer wipes down a glass cup/bowl with 90% alcohol, lights it on fire, and sticks it on your skin. The heat from the fire trapped with in the bowl causes a suction. Hence, bruising!
Not only did I get cupping, but I also got pretty ill. I am not sure where the illness came from, but I had a horribly high fever for three days, and haven't been able to eat right since Saturday evening. YUCK!

Owie

2007-07-20T18:06:00.000-06:00

I wiped out on my bike the other day. It hurt a lot. I think I got whiplash. Here's some proof.

My knee

My ankle

My Elbow

None of these hurt half as bad as my neck and head!

My Stash

2007-07-17T07:52:00.000-06:00

This weekend I bought some tubs to reorganize my stash of yarns and knit items. Boy do I feel like 100x better now that I reorganized!

Before, I just had all of my yarn piled into a HUGE basket like thing. Now I can actually see what I am trying to find. Yay!
I do have WAY too much yarn right now though. I need to get rid of some!

Keep on knittin.

socks

2007-07-12T16:50:00.001-06:00

Oh, how I love knitting socks. Isn't it amazing to think that you can make two wonderful little things out of an eight dollar ball of yarn. They are so great. So simple, so easy. I love to tote them around, and I truly feel special knitting with toothpick sized knitting needles.

21!

2007-07-08T11:37:00.001-06:00

I turned 21 (finally) on Friday, July 6th. I feel so old! It's amazing to think that you look forward to something for so long, and then it comes and goes before you have the time to appreciate the change.
My sisters and I went out downtown in Denver. It was pretty fun, but we putzed out pretty early. We went to Comedy Works and the cheesecake factory. I got a mint julep at the cheesecake factory (gag). I don't like brandy. I like vodka I believe. My two sisters and I all like vodka more than any other alcohol. How weird. I am not a big drinker, and neither are they. It's strange to think that we all share the same ideas when we didn't even ever talk about it. I love my sisters and they really make me feel comfortable with myself.
I got a few compliments when we got out. That's new. I'm not one of those people who people find pretty or even normal. I don't know what I am, but usually I don't get compliments. What a nice surprise to get numerous compliments on my dress, hair, style on my 21st birthday. YAY! What a good day.

Teddy Bear Parade

2007-06-30T12:39:00.001-06:00

I went on a teddy bear knitting rampage last week at some point. I have five of them knit, but only two of them sewn. I'm a slacker. I really enjoy these little guys though. They are so full of expression even without faces sewn on!

Here's a preview

And here's a link!
teddy bears

current

2007-06-29T12:56:00.000-06:00

Here's something I just finished and a cactus.

Reason why I am not knitting enough

2007-06-27T13:06:00.000-06:00

While I know this is a knitting blog, I wanted to post my first creative nonfiction writing piece for the world to see. This is my attempt at a "lyrical essay." I am still working on it, so don't judge too harshly. Hopefully you can figure out who "she" is.

She haunts me.

When I was in first grade, she kept me fearful of reading a word out loud. Her whispers in my ear made me hide in the bathroom for hours after peeing my pants in Preschool. My teacher was the hero who came into the bathroom with fresh underwear and rescued me from her painful nails raking my skull.

Second through fifth grades were painful. She coaxed my friends into revoking their friendships. She joined older girls on the playground or in the hallway when they would mock my walk, hair, family, or figure.

I thought she would be long gone when I changed schools. Perhaps she faded for a bit, but never longer than a week or two. During those few days her voice grew weak and my smile grew stronger.
But she always came back to taunt me, and in high school she returned stronger, harsher, and sharper.

Not a day went by my freshman year of high school when she did not whisper in my ear. Sometimes I would confide in her just because she was the only one around willing to lend an ear. My anger and self-pity thrived in her presence like the kudzu in Louisiana.

For months the poison of her words coursed through my veins. Until one day…one day I made a new friend. My haunting shadow relaxed her grip on my thoughts while I played video games with my boyfriend.
The world seemed bright yellow and fuzzy while my attention was focused on him instead of her.

Then, I think he started listening to her. She got to him and he got to me. I couldn’t love him after she had left her tainted scent on our relationship.

Happily she straddled my back as my confidence and composure plummeted together into the black hole under my childhood mattress.

For over a year my eyesight was dark and blurry, my mouth snide and snappy, and my head felt like she was gnawing some of it off.
Once again I had scared off and rejected every living thing capable of love or affection. Or, at least that’s what I thought.

And then he saved me. Slowly. He was like Galadriel or Michael or my knight in shining armor.
Something unexpected but necessary.

He didn’t mind my malicious remarks or my dislike of the world around me. He was my light at the end of a very long, dark headache.

I don’t think he even believes she exists. If he does, he knows she is no friend of his nor mine.

I know I listen to her deep, rasping sneer far too often, but I am weak. I have become dependent on her negativity. When I need to write a paper, give a presentation, sell my work, ride my bike, or even wear a pretty dress, she is there telling me how worthless I am. I am a complete failure and nothing I do will ever be good or exceptional.

But she is just a whisper compared to my scream.

Creative Nonfiction Writing

2007-06-25T16:46:00.000-06:00

Today I started a "summer session" class as my school would call it. This is a Creative Nonfiction Writing class. The "professor" is Kathryn Eastburn, a co-founder and editor of the Colorado Springs Independent, and a free-lance writer. She seems like an amazing woman, she just might not quite know what it's like to be a professor. She talks quite a bit about herself, but altogether I am pretty excited about the class.

Since about fifth grade I have kept a journal. (This is part of the reason why I started bookmaking. I have a passion for a blank piece of paper.) I am not much of a creative writer so hopefully this class will help me develop my skills. I have quite a few ideas about what I would like to write about and how I would like it to sound, but it never turns out that way.

My main idea is to write about my Antarctica trip, so that I have a great encounter of my experience. Wish me luck!

On the knitting side of things, I have collected more plastic bags from Colorado College, my aunt, and my boyfriend's mom. Yay! I'm also working on triangular felted purse. Whoopie!

WHfew!

2007-06-20T20:57:00.000-06:00

I've been pretty busy lately with work and my senior project. If you guys don't know this yet, I am a geology major at Colorado College between by junior and senior year. The past three years have not been too easy, but definitely fun. My passion for rocks and the environment comes near to my passion for crafting.

For my senior project I am looking at metamorphic rocks under the microscope. I am to the point where I need to start taking pictures of the textures within these rocks, but Colorado College does not have an "equipped facility" for petrology (study of rocks). So, sunday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, and friday of this week are being spent at the Colorado School of Mines in Denver. At one point in my life (high school) I thought about attending the school of mines, but I am glad I haven't. These have been long days in front of a computer and microscope. No time for blogging or crafting!

With what little free time I have, I have been cutting more and more and more AND MORE plastic bags. Whfew! Cutting plastic bags proves difficult! Well, not so much difficult as tedious. I finished my first knit plastic bag a couple of days ago, and my aunt already wants it! I'm cooking with gas now! It's very fun, and free! I would suggest every other knitter or crocheter use up those horrible plastic grocery bags by knit/crochet(ing) bags, rugs, sponges, anything you can think of! We must be eco-friendly!

Knitty weekend

2007-06-17T11:11:00.000-06:00

I finally stopped cutting plastic bags and began KNITTING plastic bags. It was a lot of fun, and I would say my prototype was a bit ugly, but immediately, my Aunty Gay wanted it! She waited to ask until I was nearly done and said "Did I tell you I had a birthday in April?" I thought that was a great way to ask for something she wanted. I happily gave it to her because what do I need it for? I will just knit some more. I will take a picture of it before I give it to her so I can put it on my blog for the world to see my silly plastic bag bag. Hahaha. I think this is a start of a new love. Who could not love yarn for free? I am going to be knitting a lot more of these bags I believe! I am already getting ideas from some other sellers on etsy like arnym and sherrybingaman.

After finishing the bag, I started with some more teddy bears. YAY! I love those! Well, actually, I hate sewing them together, but I love knitting them. This weekend I went to Walsenburg for a wedding and stopped by Edla's Yarns. She was having a great sale, so I invested in some geisha for teddy bears. Well, on to more bears!

projects

2007-06-13T07:39:00.000-06:00

I'm working on a few different projects at the moment. My sister is somewhat of a shop-a-holic, so I am cutting up all of her plastic bags into (somewhat) straight strips so that I can knit plastic bags into...guess what? A BIGGER plastic bag! heheh. Hopefully this will work. I am thinking it will be a pretty big bag, strong enough to hold a few groceries. I really love reusing stuff! I think about getting home and cutting up plastic bags all day at work. I'm obsessed I tell you! The plastic bag project has proven to be quite a time-eater though because I've been cutting bags for three nights (with the random help of my boyfriend and his sister on the first night), and I have nowhere NEAR enough cut to make a bag! *sigh*

Last night I also started knitting a bride's purse. My boyfriend's mother works at a bridal shop, and she suggested that I knit some purses so her store could sell them for me. I quick went to Edla's yarn shop in Walsenburg when I went to visit my mom and bought some Bonsai in tofu, bamboo, and shin gold. They are so beautiful! I found a great pattern that I wanted to use, so now I'm clicking away!

I apologize for the photo quality. Those were taken with my webcam! I was also hiding behind my knitting because I am sitting in bed without my hair brushed or anything!

Etsy

2007-06-12T09:12:00.000-06:00

Last week I opened a shop up on etsy.

MY SHOP

I haven't sold anything on it yet, and truthfully I am quite obsessed. I know that if I would like to do one thing for the rest of my life, it would be crafting. It would be nice if I could make a little money here and there, selling my crafted items. Right now I have some stuff that was fun to make, but I don't believe anyone is interested.

There are a lot of things I need to learn about in this business. I need to take better pictures, and somehow sell myself better. I really love one of the books that I have listed. It's called the "marble cake cat," and it was a beautiful book before I ripped it up and remade it. I also took the time to stamp little purple and pink flowers on pretty much every page.

I really hope I can get this little shop kicked off because currently, it's my only form of income.