101 Things in 1,001 Days #2 : One Year To Go

I've just realised that I only have 1 year left to go in my second 101 Things in 1,001 Days project! A year seems like a long time but hardly any time at all, simultaneously. I don't know about you, but when I'm in this situation, it's tempting to start thinking about all the things I won't have time for, so I thought I'd have a look at some things I can/will do in the next year.

#10 Create a Pleasing Garden
This plan is going very well, thanks to some planning, hard work and visits by various tradesmen. I have a general plan for the garden overall, and more detailed plans for some areas. As the weather is cooling down now, it's too late to plant any new plants, so I can focus on helping the ones I've already planted through the Winter, and installing some other stuff that you normally find in a nice garden. Husband and I have discussed the kind of outdoor furniture we want so we can actually spend time in the garden next Spring.

A 'before' shot!
#56 go overseas
This is (hopefully) happening! Husband, my Mum and I are going to Europe for a month at the end of this year, if everything goes according to plan. It's been 10 years since I last went overseas; here's a picture of that:

#69 Make Cheese
I'm completely obsessed with dairy products lately, for some reason, and I've already been experimenting with making yoghurt and some strained yoghurt variants (blog post coming soon!). Actual cheese is a lot more complicated, but I'm feeling an urge to give it a go.

#36 Do The Sketchbook Project
This is a new project. I swapped out an item I didn't want to do anymore and replaced it with this one. Sometimes that happens when new things crop up or I just lose motivation to do something I originally put on the list. The Sketchbook Project is an organisation in the U.S. that has a library of artist books. For a fee, you can purchase a book, fill it, and then send it back to them, where it will be held in the library forever. Many of them have been digitised and you can view them online. It's a rabbit hole that can amuse you for hours on end.

#38 Finish Duplicating my Blog
My poor blog has been through a lot in the 15+ years it's been around. A couple of years ago I started a project to transfer all of the posts from LiveJournal to Blogger. Halfway through that, the photo hosting site I was using decided to start charging an exhorbitant fee for their services. I wouldn't have minded if it was reasonable, but it wasn't. I downloaded all of my photos from that site (15 years' worth!) and re-uploaded them to Blogger. That took a really long time, too. I only have one thing left to do, and that's post a re-direct notice to my original blog so people know that it's not actually dead.


#39 finish Konmariing my emails
When I first started this project a few years ago, I had over 5,000 emails. I created a series of sub-folders for emails that need actioning, to read, links to online shops, courses, etc. Every day (or 5 times a week at least), I worked to reduce it and now there are around 100 emails. I can't seem to reduce it any more though, no matter how hard I try. I've unsubcribed to countless newsletters but I still receive 10-20 emails a day. I really want to try and find a solution so I can end this project, but I have a sinking feeling that it will be ongoing. Perhaps it's more realistic to find a way to minimalise the amount of time/work I spend on it.


#87 Sew 5 Garments
For some reason I've been intensely into sewing in just the last week or so, after a slump of many years. I made a face mask as my first, 'ease in' project, and I'm currently working on a skirt. This is the fabric I'm using. Again, a blog post is forthcoming!

#74-#78 Various Reading Goals
The obsession I had with reading for the last few months has abated a bit, but I still think I can tick off a few things. One of my goals was to read 5 books from LibraryThing's top 106 unread books list (based on the tags people use in their catalogues). I've read 2 already so I'm well on the way.
Another goal was to re-read the Harry Potter series; I don't feel like it right now but as the weather starts to cool into Autumn, it might return.
I decided a few years ago to re-read Dickens' A Christmas Carol every Christmas, just because it's a good reminder to be nice to people, and it only takes a couple of hours.

These are the books I had earmarked for my most
recent reading challenge -- I read less than half!

#62 Make 12 New Recipes from my Cookbooks
I have a tendency to go straight to the internet when I need a recipe or to check how to make something. Between us though, Husband and I have over 100 cookbooks, and we've moved them to a special bookcase near the kitchen, so it would be a shame not to use them! I've already made 2, so I have a bit of a way to go, but I love food and cooking so it seems reasonable. (Actually, I made lemon juice cheese from my cheese-making book a few weeks ago, so if that counts, it's 3.)


#101 write a New 101 List
There's almost no doubt that I'll be doing a third 101 Things in 1,001 Days, so this one goes without saying.

I'm on Instagram

I decided to join Instagram because I noticed that some of my favourite bloggers had either moved there, or were posting much more frequently there. Once I joined, I realised that it would also help further my aim (as I mentioned recently in this post) of becoming more comfortable in taking and posting photos of myself.

I've updated my sidebar buttons to include a link to my account. I think the new buttons look much cuter, too! So please do follow my Instagram if you like the following:

★ craft projects in progress
★ plants & flowers
★ pictures of my cat
★ outings around Melbourne
★ food
★ makeup of the day
★ derpy pictures of my face
★ occasional what I wore (I don't have a full-length mirror at home, so the frequency will depend on how often I can cajole Husband into taking full-length pictures of me!)

If you don't do the Instagram thing, that's fine too. I'll probably post a summary of my favourite photos here on the blog each month.

Reflections on 10 Years of Blogging

Looking back through some of my old blog posts recently, I realised something -- I started my blog in May 2004. By my calculations, that makes over 10 years of blogging! I find it hard to believe. It happened almost by accident.

A year earlier in 2003, I'd started using a new blogging website, LiveJournal, to keep a private diary. It was the typical angst-ridden hand-wringing of an introverted single girl with an unstable job. Whether it was the cathartic effects of the diary or other factors, I don't know, but sometime later my life started to improve. Chatty posts about my hobbies started to appear, and I decided to make these public. These posts were aimed at a very specific group -- young women I worked with who had also just taken up knitting and/or had a LiveJournal -- and their tone reflects that. It wasn't until several months in that I discovered how to post photos. Other attributes considered essential now, like the banner and sidebar, came much later. Unfortunately, I've lost touch with all of those girls now, but my blog is still here.

Naturally, the blog has always reflected my varying interests. At first this was knitting, interspersed with some cooking and random filler when the weather was too hot to knit. As well as long periods of no posting at all! After a couple of years, I reached arguably the pinnacle of knitting -- sock-making. After this triumph, I wanted to do something new. I tried crocheting again and realised that I preferred it. Hungry for new crafts and techniques -- or the sentimental revival of old ones from when I was a kid -- I branched out in various directions. I tried latch hook, embroidery, applique, sewing, weaving, plushie making and art dolls. Tentatively, I branched into the arts with some drawing and artist cards. I wrote my first zine in October of 2007 and started my first art journal in January of 2008. My manic buzzing back and forth between various crafts got so hectic that I started a post series called "5-Minute Obsessions" to try and document it. Sometimes I would even order the materials for a new craft online, and by the time they arrived, I'd lost interest and moved on to something else.

In the midst of all this swirling disorganisation, I must have wanted some order, as around mid-2008, I started experimenting with releasing various series of weekly posts and and doing regular round-ups. What with working full-time however, and wanting to find time to actually do crafts, my planned posting schedules were never very long-lived. Things have continued in their slightly haphazard way until the present day. As my interests and circumstances have changed, so has the nature of my craft and naturally, the content of the blog. When I started working full-time and wanted to make sure I didn't forget my independent self, I started writing zines. I took up art journalling to challenge myself and improve my drawing. When I moved in with Husband and my nesting instinct started to kick in, I stopped making endless scarves and started making blankets and cushions. And when we bought a house together last year, posts on gardening suddenly began to appear.

I never kidded myself that many or any people would read my blog. Any changes that I've made, like the banner and sidebar, have been mostly for my own pleasure. At times I've contemplated making more of an effort -- giving it a more professional look or moving it to a platform with more options. But in the end, the blog is me. Sometimes frenetically excited, other times lethargic (it's lain dormant for up to three months at a time before). Self-deprecating. Obsessive. A little bit dorky.

I'd been knitting again for three years when I started blogging about it. In my second ever post back in June 2004, I berated myself that "I've jumped onto the bandwagon way too late with this knitting blog". I have a feeling that I've more than made up for that with longevity. 10 years is practically a millennium in internet-years. But I think there's still room in the world for a blog like mine.

Statistics Time!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm a bit of a Statistics Geek. Ten months ago, when I decided to re-name and re-vitalise my blog, I was determined to write 3 posts a week. The other day I was wondering how that was going, so I decided to do a bit of analysis.

Below we see a Column Chart showing how many posts I wrote per week, between April 2010 and March 2011. The posts I did for the Reverb10 writing project are excluded. I also didn't count the 3 weeks when I was in Europe. Even still, it seems I'm falling far short of my determination to post 3 times per week! On average, I'm posting 1.5 times per week (rounded off).

That bump there where I did 5 posts in one week was the week of New Year's 2011. I had a lot to share that week! I also thought I'd do this whizzy Pie Chart [below] to investigate what days of the week I normally post.

I wasn't surprised at the outcome. I tend to start the week with good intentions, to document every step of my arty and crafty adventures. But then after working full time and all the other things in life, I realise all of a sudden on Friday that I haven't taken a single picture of what I've been doing. Sometimes I haven't even been doing anything to take a picture of!

I know many other bloggers have written about it before, but it really is true that writing meaningful blog posts, taking photos and editing them can be a lot of work. It's a labour of love, don't get me wrong! But sometimes I still want to share something, even when I don't have the time to go to all that effort. That's why I've decided to inaugurate Ditzy Tuesday! Tuesday is right about that time when I'm on the uphill climb - I'm firmly entrenched in the working week, but the weekend still looks so far away. I need something to cheer me up! So I'll use the Powers of Pinterest to post a photo of pattern I might like to try making, a project that someone else has made that I'm admiring, or even an unrelated but swoon-worthy photo that suits my mood.

Stay tuned for the first Ditzy Tuesday tomorrow!

The Big Reveal

I've decided to change the name of my blog. I've had my blog since 26th May 2004, which is quite an extraordinarily long time on the Intertubes! I've changed a lot in the last 6 years, and I've been unhappy with the old name for a while now. "The Barely Competent Knitter" just doesn't suit me anymore. Negative Nancy ruled the roost back then. It represents a past that I want to leave behind. Even the subtitle which I added a few years later - "A Work In Progress" - is only slightly better. Aside from that, I do a whole lot more than knit now! (I was going to put "just" knit, but we all know you can't describe knitting that way.)

I wracked my brain to try and think of a name that would encompass my passion, my multiplicity of interests, my child-like (and sometimes childish!) glee in discovering new things, and possibly even my tendency to remain anonymous and shy away from meeting new people (a few titles had the word 'hermit' worked into them). I googled all the names I liked and they were already taken! Darnnit! Yes, I'm vain enough to want a blog with a unique name. Besides, it's less confusing.

I let the matter sit on the backburner for a few weeks. Then I had a dream. It's well known that when other people talk about their dreams it's interminably boring, so I'll keep it short. I was on a cruise ship (why, I don't know, but it was fun!). There was some kind of trade conference on and I was there to show off my wares. The place was a-buzz with crowds and colour. There were lots of people waiting to see my crafts, my art and my writing. One thing was missing though. I didn't have a way to display them - I needed a table to put them on. I tried everything to get a-hold of one, but I couldn't beg, borrow or steal a table! I even tried pretending to be a buyer for Ikea, but no deal! The dream ended with frustration and disappointment.

At first I had no idea what this dream meant or if it was significant. Then I realised what it was trying to tell me - I am the table! A table is the best thing ever because you can put whatever you want on it: a pretty tablecloth and a delicious meal, a box full of paints and a blank canvas, a writing pad and a pen, a shabby chic vase with a single rose in it or even a bunch of self-help books. The possibilities are endless! And a table is a place to create and share and accomplish things. So, yes. I am a table. And my blog will be called this. If you're reading my blog raw (not in a reader) you'll be able to see that there's a new banner up there ^^ and a little blurb about the name over there >> .
[Edit: I have since shortened my blurb and added a link to this post.]

When I made the decision, here's how the conversation in my head went:

ApartmentCat: I'm so excited! I'm going to change the name of my blog to I'm a Table!

Negative Nancy: What are you, crazy? That's a stupid name! It doesn't even make sense!

ApartmentCat: Yeah, but I don't make sense! So who cares!

Negative Nancy: You're crazy! And a weirdo!

ApartmentCat: No I'm not, I'm a creative, wonderful person!

Negative Nancy: Ach, whatever. Go ahead. But you'll regret it in a few months.

ApartmentCat: Nyer!

We all know that Negative Nancy is a stupid-head anyway!
So there'll be some changes around here. I don't know what form they will take yet; we'll see. Watch this space! (Watch this table?!)

Small Update

Last night I made a few changes to my blog sidebar. =========>

I made the colours and sizes of the headings a bit more consistent, and I got rid of the 'Recently Finished' section. It had stuff on it dating back to last year! I seem to finish a project about once every 3 months lately. My focus isn't so much on finishing stuff lately - it's on practising and learning new things. So it made more sense to have a 'Recently Inspired By' section instead. In it, I'll feature books I've been reading, movies, blogs, etc. that have started my creative juices flowing.

I've just started a new project which will take 6 months. I'll explain more when I have some photos to show.

I'll leave you with another interpretation of Side Bar:


Tropical Poolside Bar HDR, originally uploaded by kim-i.

Mosaic Monday -- A New Start

Mosaic Monday -- A New Start, originally uploaded by apartmentcat.

In honour of the new year, I have created a mosaic on the theme of "A New Start". How each picture relates to that is up to you to decide!

I did my second annual 3 Days of Craft over the New Year long weekend. (My first one was actually in April last year.) I mainly spent it wrapping up little things from last year though, rather than start any new projects, but I think that was appropriate.

My newest obsession is turning my blog into a book! Last night I downloaded the software from Blurb which automatically sucks my blog dry and slams it down into pre-formatted book form. Then you fiddle with it all you like, before sending the file off to be made into a real, live book! (For a fee of course.) I'm extremely lucky that LiveJournal is just one of the two blogging sites that it will do this for. I think I would like to do this every year from now on. For a long time, I've been trying to think of a way to preserve my blog (cos my ramblings are so deep and meaningful *snorts*) and this just seems like the perfect way. I'm starting to have visions of writing actual books and selling them in my shop and the Blurb bookstore. None of this faffing around with publishers anymore!

Freedom! Starting at US$12.95.

Speed Posting, Part 4

I'm going to try and keep this short today as I want to get back to crafting! After the doctors' appointment, and doing some dishes and laundry, etc etc. I'm home sick from work today (or should that be 'sick'...?) but I haven't had much of a chance to do anything crafty. Here are the photos I promised last time though:

It's amigurumi - in chihuahua form!

I finally finished the amigurumi chihuahua that I started in July last year. That's a whole year, people! It shouldn't take that long to finish, even if it was my first one! I was too hurt (both physically and emotionally!) by the memory of all the needle wounds from sewing the arms and legs on. But he is done at last! Actually, the main reason I got on and finished it was so I could take back possession of the really cool beauty case I was using to hold the project. But don't tell him, he's very sensitive! He's currently sitting on the bookshelf waiting for a name.

Next up is the scarf I made for a work colleague of a friend. It took a lot longer than I'd hoped, and I feel pretty bad about that, but apparently she loved it! There are ups and downs to making things to order, the main up being you have a guaranteed sale! I'm still enjoying working with different textures and colours of yarn, so I wouldn't mind making some more.

I've also been working on my third kokeshi doll:

I'm still a bit iffy on how the proportions are going to turn out, but I'll have to wait and see I suppose. I have an idea for how I will embellish the body but I'm not going to reveal that yet!

I started a second cat blanket to donate to the Lost Dog's Home today. The first one is nearly finished, so I felt justified. I was working on it this morning in bed while I was listening to the Hound of the Baskervilles talking book and drinking coffee. Geez, I could get used to this lady of leisure thing!

I also re-jigged my sidebar a bit, for anyone who may be reading this independent of a reader. It now has a 'non-yarn projects in progress' section. This reflects the projects I have started and want to start to do with the Retro Crafts book I mentioned in my last post. Yes, I'm still obsessed with it! For a while I wanted to make every project in the book. But I admit that might be a little too crazy, even for me! I'm hoping to have time to work on my painted things tonight.

Gotta go now!

[Later:]
I finished the Farmyard Pencil Cups!

In a Nutshell

I'd much rather read blogs than write them at the moment, so I'm keeping it short.
(I currently have 116 blogs on my feed. *gulps*)

Amazing Birthday Haul
I got a Lincraft voucher, an Art 'n' Craft Riot voucher, and a subscription to CRAFT magazine from my amazingly wonderful, generous friends for my birthday. Thanks guys!!! I still haven't decided what to buy. Some canvas boards to try out my painting on, perhaps. (NOT more wool! :P)

From my Mum I got these:

Some socks. Some Yuzu hand cream. It smells divine! Like floral and citrus. And a kokeshi doll! I'm especially happy with her. And I realised that her head is poseable!:

ZINE STUFF
I got it finished! Yes I did! Way late, but I'm very proud of it. I'm even sending it to people I don't have to. What's it about? The title pretty much sums it up. And if you want more, it's listed in my shop.

"My Life as a Slacker;
Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Wage"
There's a workshop on street media (zines, blogs, etc) on at the City Library on Wednesday nights starting this week. I can't decide whether to go or not. It would be good for me to meet people, get some new skillz, and borrow hundreds of books (well, some may argue against the last one!), but on the other hand, I'm pretty sick of zines, I'm supposed to be doing BodyPump on Weds nights, and I'm very shy and never take proper advantage of these opportunities. So I just don't know! I have 2 days to decide.

SHOP STUFF
I came into a little bit of money that I wasn't expecting to get from a dispute from a former employer. So I decided to fork out money for some things to do with the shop that I wouldn't normally, or not at this stage yet, anyway. I got:

A Head. I was very excited when I ordered this! Hopefully it will make my hat and scarf pictures look a whole lot better. I just need to find a time when the light is right. Perhaps on the weekend. I hate this time of year - I leave for work in the dark and get home at dusk. And I work in the basement. Still, I've never wanted to be tanned anyway!
(I'm just concerned that her skin is a little shiny. I'm gonna give her a wash. I don't have any inspiration for a name yet. *percolating*)

Moo Cards. These came today. I got a 33% off offer for Etsy sellers. Can't go past that! I could only select photos from my shop, but most of my best photos are on there anyway, so that doesn't matter.

New Banner. See shop. I paid a web designer to make it for me. I didn't like my old banner, but I just couldn't be arsed making a new one. So I decided to help out a fellow blogger who couldn't pay their phone bill.

Bored, hungry and cold now. More next time.
See ya.

[Later]
I tried to change the style of my blog and it deleted the sidebar completely. #*%#**&^*(&!! I've been meaning to re-do it anyway. I don't have time to finish it off at the moment though, so it might look a bit hinky for the next few days. Whatever.

More Faffing Around

I've been doing all sorts of stuff lately. Just no knitting or crocheting. My old staples. But I think this is good I've been branching out.

Over the weekend I decided to embrace the bandwagon and make a Dotee Doll. They're art dolls that you make from fabric and felt and decorate them any way you like. Here's a tutorial (links to Wayback Machine) on how to make one from the lady who invented them. She's Australian. Woohoo!

Here's a picture of one I stole off the internet (I heart Google images) to tide you over until I finish mine:

From My Spinning Head blog.
She has some great fabric postcards as well.

Last night I also started a Tennis page in my art journal in honour of Lleyton Hewitt losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open. I'm the most un-Australian Australian there ever was! Heh! Actually, I'd been planning it for about a week. I just need to buy some blue acrylic paint and then I can finish it tonight. I did some quick little watercolours as well on the lovely paper that Boy got me for Christmas. It felt great to be painting again after a few weeks of having no mojo.

And! Most importantly, I've taken a huge dose of Comfort Zone Be-gone!:
1. I've RSVP'ed to the Melbourne Etsy seller's picnic on the 9th of Feb. I'm absolutely shit-scared, but I have to do it. There's no corners to hide in in a park! Perhaps a tree?... I really am looking forward to meeting some of the other amazing sellers out there whose shops I've been admiring for a while, though. And it's a great opportunity to get some ideas and tips for putting my shop out there.
Will anyone come with me??
2. I've decided to go to the Melbourne Craft Mafia Market on 10th Feb. This will be slightly less scary, as I'll be going as a passive consumer, but I know that some other Etsy sellers will be there, and if I don't tell at least one person about my shop, I may as well go live in a cave in the mountains and eat grubs for the rest of my life! Or stop trying to flog my stuff, anyway.
3. Going on Swap-bot is a lot more social than I'd realised! Swapping with people actually consists of social interactions (uh duh!) as well as just stuff. People are looking at my profile and the links to my blog and shop! I'm finding this a little scary, but all of the people have been so amazingly wonderful that I just can't help getting out there and doing more. And ... they're looking!
4. The Big One. I've decided to change the comments setting on my journal so that anyone can make comments. It will be moderated for non-livejournal-friends though, cause I'm paranoid. So don't worry if your comment takes a little while to appear. But I do welcome comments, that's for sure!

So much change! Eeek! *runs away and hides in the Basement*

Finishing... and Starting

I only have 2 threads to weave in, and my Work Warmers will be finished! I'm too tired to be very excited though. I'll be excited tomorrow when I wear them for the first time. (Actually, I am a little excited, despite myself!)

I decided to take the plunge yesterday and overhaul the look of my blog. That's why (if you're reading it independently and not part of a list) you'll see that everything is blue now instead of pink, and looks much easier on the eye. I've also FINALLY found out how to add percentage bars to my blog!! Check it out!! ------------------->

Thanks so much to Yarn Tomato (link on the side there) for this blogging miracle! Also thanks to Laura (lmr743), whose blog I first saw it on. (Hi, by the way, and thanks for being my friend!)

I have also put a Flickr badge on there, but it doesn't seem to be working. I'll have to figure out what's wrong.

I think my brain is reacting to working full-time for the first time ever by just going totally insane creatively. I've had more ideas in the last week than I have in years. I started a tangerine-shaped sachet yesterday. I've suddenly discovered amigurumi toys and I'm desperate to start my first one.

And cause I'm too lazy to upload any pictures, here's a random one I downloaded from google:

Yes, it's a knitted ham sandwich!

Good night, and good luck.

Bloggy Stuff

I have been thinking a bit about my blog lately. I've been reading a lot of other blogs in the last couple of months, and I've been getting Blog Envy again. All the other blogs are so pretty and professional-looking, and mine is ugly and has crappy, un-artistic pictures and no touching and insightful revelations from my private life at all! It just sucks!
So I was tweaking with the colours, etc the other day, and I realised that my blog is set so that it won't come up in searches. I didn't realise or had forgotten that. I can't decide whether to leave it like that or allow searches. It would be great if other knitters read my blog and posted comments and gave me blog love, but then I would have to reciprocate and love them back and I'm just not into that sort of thing. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are lots of wonderful, warm and caring people out there in the knitting-blogosphere, but I'm really bad at replying to my friends' emails, let alone someone I've never even met! So I think I'll leave it as-is for now.

Speaking of the blogosphere, there's this thing called Frappr now. You can set up a map, and people log on to the website and put 'pins' in the map. All the cool kids who have podcasts or blogs are doing it. I think it's a really good idea. The maker of the map knows how many people are listening to/reading their stuff and where in the world they are, and the pin-pushers can add their little 'yay, I like you' message while still remaining relatively anonymous. (And anyone who knows me knows that anonymity is my bag, baby.)

Sorry, I'm digressing pretty seriously here. Back to MY blog. I think I might change the format. I can't get rid of the grey background no matter what I do.
Also, yesterday I was thinking of reducing the size of all of the photos I post from now on. It's not fair on any readers to have to download huge photos when they're so crappy! But then, this morning Boy was playing with my camera, and he said, "you know, this has a close-up function?" And I said, "WHAT??" "Yeah, all you have to do is press this button." I mean, DUH!!!!, I've only had it for about 5 years!
But then again, I got it for free second-hand, and there was no manual, and I'm not the type of girl that needs to know what every button does now, am I? *twirls hair around finger and bats eyelashes*

I got so excited, that I ran around taking close-up photos of everything!:

Speaking of Boy, after much trawling earlier in the week, I found a pattern for a reversible cable scarf [Warning: PFD file] that he approves of (well, he approved of the picture pretty heartily anyway). It looks like one I would enjoy doing as well. Though, looking at the pattern, I don't know how the back will come out looking the same as the front. *shrugs* I'll do a swatch on the weekend.
Now that the pattern is decided, I have to find the yarn! Boy is allergic to wool. This is a bit of a problem. He also expressed a preference for a blue colourway and variegated yarn. (He didn't actually use either of those terms, I have to point out! He's more the computers-and-woodworking type). I've heard rumblings before that cable patterns don't look very good when done with variegated yarns, but there are some really great tweeds and flecked yarns out there as well, so perhaps I can compromise.
My first mini knitting shop foray didn't go so well. At Clegg's they had a gorgeous blue yarn flecked with reds and greens, but it was 100% wool. Everything else I looked at was too. At Lincraft, they didn't really have any flecked tweeds, but they did have a gorgeous soft alpaca blend. I SMSed boy to ask if he was allergic to alpaca. Strangely enough, he wasn't sure. It only came in solid colours, though, so I'm leaning away from that. I looked at the Zhivago as well, as that has some variegated colours as well, but the choices ran more to the orange and pink end of the spectrum rather than blue.
I haven't able to get to any more shops since then, but it's given me something to think about.

It has been 11 days since I last bought yarn.

P.S.

I also re-arranged my Works In Progress [link defunct] page into 4 categories: Current, Long Term, On Hold and Abandoned.

I have 3 projects in the On Hold category at the moment, and I want to either do something with them, or get rid of them. Lacy Scarf I want to finish off by threading some ribbons through (though do I really need more scarves?!). Cardigan I want to restart, I don't know how yet. Top Medallion - rip off and re-make into a square. (That would make sense if I had a picture. I'll try and get one organised.)

Night!

Sick and Not Bloggy

I was starting to wonder if anyone else was out there! Myself, I've been laid low with the "I Got Food Poisoning From A Low-Fat
Subway Wrap" Blues. Available from all good music stores. I don't think I'll be putting that one in the player again for a while!


Even having two days off and not being able to leave the house, I've still done hardly any knitting (gasp!). In the warmer months I tend to be more interested in sewing than knitting, so if anyone's still interested, I think make this my "Whatever I'm Doing Right Now" blog, hopefully with some kind of crafty content (hee). I can't guarantee a boredom-free atmosphere, let alone regular posting, though. You'll just have to wait and see.

*knocks on the glass* is anyone out there? Just checking.

Testing, testing...

I'm testing whether or not I can add photos to this blog, using my Piercing Mildred character.

Here is how Flexure, my Piercing Mildred [link defunct] character, looks, right now. The new tattoo on her belly is covered with a bandage. I am halfway through making her a tiara out of studs.

P.S. It worked!! If only I'd known about photo bucket 2 years ago!!