caffaknitted

Shivers

We're having an unusually cold end to October this year.  On Tuesday, we had our first snow, and while we usually see our first flakes in October, we don't usually see any accumulation.  But it turned out to be a nice thin coat, and hazardous enough road-wise to close schools for the day.  You can see the last of my poor tomatoes trying to ripen in the cold.  Yes, I know...I should pick them and let them ripen inside, but it was just too darn cold to be picking tomatoes.

I did finish my new winter hat last week.  It's pretty cozy, but unfortunately looks far cuter on UiJin with his long black locks.  Here he is modeling it with the modular scarf I knit for him Christmas before last.

I love all the entries I've been getting for the contest.  They are some pretty bizarre ideas.  I'm leaving the result in the hands of the Random Number Generator, lets just call it the Randomator, for short.  I'll take all entries through Sunday, and pick the winner on Monday, so it's not too late if you have an idea for something I can knit.  The weirder, the better.

 

Time for a contest: "Tell Katie what to knit"

 I've been  sitting here sick all day, and while I probably should have been resting, or maybe knitting, I instead goofed around on the internet, redesigned my blog (if you can't see it empty your cache), and I came up with a novel idea for a contest.  I haven't held a blog contest in a long while.  Here's the idea...you tell me what to knit.  It can be anything, and I do mean anything...people, animal, inanimate object. My only request is that it be something you've never seen knit before, and that it not be wearable.  I love a challenge, and I feel like taking on a new challenge.  Think of the oddest thing you'd like to see in knit form, post it as a comment on this blog entry.  I'll use a random number generator to pick the winner.  What will you get?  First of all, you'll get my next 2 published patterns....for free.  And I'll throw in a free sticker and postcard from the Luvable Hugable show.  That's 4 prizes!  Good luck!

ick.

I have pink eye.  Between both the kids we've probably had pink eye at least a dozen times in this house, and I've never gotten it...until today.  I spent the morning in the doctor's office waiting room, wearing shades to cover my swollen eye.  Oh, and I also have bronchitis!...which is worse, but somehow less embarrassing.  Seven days of antibiotics and I'll be good as new.  At least I have a lot of time to knit today.

True Love

This morning I picked up biscuits from a local greasy spoon for UiJin and I.  They looked absolutely delicious!  Of course, as soon as I picked mine up to take a bite, I dropped it on the floor, where it promptly fell into several pieces...top of biscuit here, egg there, cheese over there...you get the idea.  UiJin immediately handed me his pristine biscuit, and put the broken one back together for himself.  So I think is the definition of true love...when even after 5 years of marriage, your husband will eat dirty food off the floor so you don't have to.

Luvable Hugable 2008

A lot of folks have been contacting me for more information about the upcoming show in NYC, and here it is!  Luvable Hugable will open at Gallery Hanahou on Dec 4, from 6-9.  Gallery Hanahou is located inside the Cable building on the NW corner of Broadway and Houston.  The show will run through Jan. 7.  In addition, plush that do not sell at the opening will be available for purchase online from the gallery website.

This show is going to be amazing.  There are about 30 artists participating, and some of them are my plush idols.  You will not want to miss it if you're in the NYC area.  This is the show where Henry and his wives will make their debut.

Hope to see you there!

Patience (or the lack there of)

Things I am currently waiting for in the mail:

1. A shipment of yarn from the U.K.

2. Fabric for my Halloween costume.

3. New winter coat.

4. Stickers I had printed for Luvable Hugable.

I think that with my kids I am generally a pretty patient person, though not always.  Likewise with my husband (those of you who know UiJin know this is not an easy task).  Otherwise, I have the patience of a two year old.  Every day that the mailman comes without a package for me, I try not to burden with my glare of disappointment.  I love my mailman...he is the best!  It's not his fault that I live in a town where I can't just drive to the store and buy these things.  So I'm forced to wait.  I think it's probably good for me.  I'm definitely prone to doing things impulsively.  I like instant gratification. I've always found it strange that I took so easily to knitting, which is anything but instant gratification.  So to take my mind off of the waiting, I'm doing lots of knitting...and laundry.  And boy, do I ever need to do some laundry.

As for the knitting, the wig is such a quick knit!  It should be all finished by week's end.  After that, I'm hoping to knit a couple of Halloween dolls, and then work on getting some new patterns up for sale...things that will make awesome Christmas gifts.  Yes, I have lots of big plans.

Tonight is Wednesday, and you know what that means...knitting night!  Tonight we're transplanting the group to the Dragonfly theater, where they are airing the Presidential debates for free.  So it's going to be an evening filled with stitching, friends, politics, beer, and pizza!  That is the best way I can think of to take my mind off the mail.

WIPs a many...

This week, I'm not working so much on new patterns.  I'm anxiously awaiting some new yarn from the UK, which I will be using to design a project for a really cool magazine(more about that later).  International post being what it is, I decided to work on other projects until it gets here.  On a whim, I decided I would knit a hat.  The weather's getting pretty chilly, and I've treated myself to a new winter coat (it was on sale UiJin!).  I decided I needed a new hat to match.  So I impulsively grabbed this beautiful Debbie Bliss out of my stash, that I bought years ago to knit, believe it or not, underwear, of all things.  I wasn't far into the project before the impracticality dawned on me...no matter how cute the underwear pattern was.  Anyway, I did my test gauge, and then immediately cast on to the hat project.  It was going really well, quick, and a beautiful pattern.  But then I ran into a problem...I was out of yarn.  Not only that, but it turns out the frogged underwear yarn I grabbed out of my stash is discontinued...3 years discontinued actually.  Fortunately, I did find more at Yarn Market, but it won't be here for days.  So in the mean time, I decided to cast on to my Halloween wig, which by unanimous decision will be the Leia wig!  Unfortunately, Bleuarts is out of town and I won't get the pattern until Monday  :(    So....I've decided to make some Halloween toys for the Nth gallery show instead.  I'm starting with a Franken-doll.    I think he's going to be scary-cute!  

Oh, and a quick shout-out to my cousin Lisa in Minnesota!  I haven't seen her in I don't even know how long.  It's so cool that my long-distance family members read my blog!  

Also, some people were asking about the cake.  I make it from a kit, so you're allowed to be less impressed, but still...it was a lot harder to make than I thought it would be.  I used store-bought fondant on the towers and trim.

Fairy Princess Mayhem

Do you love all things pink, frilly, fluffy, and princessy?  If not, it's probably a good thing that you weren't at Sophia's 4th birthday party last Saturday.   Although, you did miss out on the deliciously magnificent strawberry castle cake made by yours truly. Speaking of which, if I never have to touch pink fondant again, I'll be totally ok with that.  Really though, I think Sophia had an amazing birthday with her friends at the Children's Playhouse.  I highly recommend hosting birthday parties there.  It was pretty awesome.

Halloween Dilemma

After finishing the Henry VIII series, I've decided to take a brief break from my usual activities in order to make something for myself.  I need to get busy on a Halloween costume.  The nth Gallery hosts a party every year, and I love dressing up.   Two years ago, I went as Orphan Annie. Last year I went as a robot.  Also, last year my husband wore my old Annie costume, and unfortunately ripped the zipper out.  

So this year, I figured I should knit something.  I've been knitting a lot of hair for my dolls, so I figured it wouldn't be that difficult to up-size it for an adult.  There are a lot of amazing knitted wigs out there.  I'm not really into the whole sexy costume.  I prefer things that are kind of ridiculous or odd.  Here's what I've narrowed it down to...

The amazing Leia wig by Bleu Arts.  The Leia costume is always a classic, and the dress would be fairly easy to make.  

Dwarven Battle Bonnets from Wicked Woollens....because they are just effing awesome!  I'm also considering adding horns and going as a Viking.  I'm really into Vikings right now.

George Washington.  I would design and knit this wig myself.  I figure with the election being only a few days after Halloween, it's a good year for something political.  I was also inspired by Drew, who was George Washington in the school's "wax museum" performance a couple of years ago.  He was so cute, you wouldn't even believe it.  I'm also trying to convince UiJin to go with me as Martha.

So I figure I'll take a casual poll, and then start knitting.  Any thoughts?

Billy Fowler at the nth Gallery

As many of you know, I've recently joined the nth gallery.  The nth is a group of working art studios and a gallery in downtown Boone, which hosts a show every month for first Friday.  I've just finished moving in.  My studio is the smallest.  I'm the in-house rookie.

This month we're hosting Billy Fowler, an amazing painter and illustrator.  I really love the pieces he showing, very colorful and imaginative.  So if you're in town tonight, come out to the nth, 7:30-until.  

Also check out the Collective, next to Black Cat Burrito.  That's where UiJin has his studio.  I'm curious to see what he's been working on myself.  I'll add pictures this weekend of my new studio.