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Spill Guts Here. It's gotta go somewhere, know what I mean? Can you stand it?
purls before swine
Geek Knitting
West Indian Parade
West Indian Parade
Dog/Cat Wrestling
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12.31.2005
Two pairs of unfinished booties fit for an infant clown. Switching to white, superfine baby alpaca 3 ply and #1 needles for the real booties. Need to buy metal #1's with a very pointy point. These are slow going due to a blunt point.
  It's kind of fascinating that the style of old-school infant's clothing is "soft pastel elf". I'm going to riff off that in black in the near future. Black booties as well, although not this time, the recipient is more traditional. 12.30.2005
I've knit three booties so far, despite the fact that they came out too big. I've got to go down a needle size to #1's, and change to cashmere as well. They knit up very fast despite the small gauge, and are really fun to make. After I flat seam them, wash and block, I'll take a picture. So far all pics of my new cabinet/desk are blurry. Will try again at some point, but I already can't live without it.
Knitting four booties, the solid yellow ones in the front, for a friend delivering twins soon. #2 US needle and Knitpicks merino sock yarn, they're really fun to make. I decided to match the color changes on each pair.
 The book is circa 1972, published in England and Australia:  12.29.2005
I'm trying something brand new {for me}, I'm making a one year plan. I have a vague notion that people must do this all the time, I'm going to try it. The annual 24/7 Bach Festival on WKCR is helping me think about what I want to do.
Yesterday morning, my new cabinet was transported, wiped down, furnished with my office stuff, and is now in service in the shop, it's a big private desk for me, and very pretty. Pix later. Thank you so much, Rose! On endless repeat inbetween Bach: Bell Biv Devoe "Poison", regular version and Club MTV extended remix, Carter Family "Banks Of The Ohio". Both of these songs are aural crack. 12.27.2005
A few exciting/fun things on the horizon: trying to find a local female kitten for an active elder neighbor, anyone in Brooklyn got one looking for a loving home? I also may take a pt textile design gig that includes a trip to India to work with the factory, I'm hoping that can work out, will find out in January! My friend Ranjit will travel with me, so that would be an incredible amount of fun. Always wanted to go to India, {and love factories}, and you can bet your boots I will be shopping for the shop there, mostly for 22k gold and textiles!
Picking up a very large and beautifully built wooden cabinet, donated by the awesome Rose from Yarnivore, tommorrow am for the shop. Moving heavy furniture in this town without a car is operatic, to say the least. What an expensive pain in the ass to line someone up to pu and deliver it. 12.24.2005
One quiet day ALL DAY tommorrow, wow, soooo glad to not talk for 24 hours. Had really good sushi tonight, instead of the traditional Jewish Chinese meal tommorrow. This has been an intense season so far, Vanderbilt Ave is a whole different story. It's like a very miniature "Deadwood", minus the killings and prostitution, with the hardcore characters, and similar in the way that we're growing the whole {town} avenue one tiny bit at a time. A friend is opening a shoe store {yea!} next week down the block, it adds to the value of our whole street, there's one less vacant storefront. We're definitely still a bit on the edge.
Sending waves of happy thoughts and wishes to whomever reads this sentence. 12.23.2005
I guess the simplest things "inspire" other people: Check out my post on December 8th, below, and then ChickKnits Earwarmers post on December 20th.
*Huge fucking sigh* Thank you, Madame X, for sending me the link. She said she left a banal comment on Chicknits blog asking if our posts were not very similar, then this morning found her post deleted and herself banned from posting there! There is a correct way to reference someone elses work or post: Right now, for the last 3 days or so, the Glitten pattern is getting extremely hard hit, it's because LiveJournal has a feature where you can repost a "friends" post WITH ATTRIBUTION, this spreads the word and results in many conversations. It's done right. Feel free to post any thoughts here, everyone except spammers or psychos. Thank you! What do you think about this? 12.22.2005
Striking transit workers are planning to return to work some time in the next day or so, and begin negotiation and I believe mediation to resolve the contract. Everyone is relieved, and there are very strong feelings on both sides. It's a real mess, but at least the subways/busses will be back.
{Hi Chris!} {Good Luck, Alexandra!} If I owe you an email or call, please know I'll be able to return those things in a few days, until then I'm stretched pretty thin. So looking forward to the 25th and 26th, which are Mandatory Pajama Days for this atheist. 12.20.2005
I heard the streets today described as "controlled chaos", and they're not kidding. Vanderbilt ave, Flatbush and Atlantic avenues here in Brooklyn {my 'hood} were gridlocked or moving slowly all day long. The shop had the second busiest day ever, in six years of being open, I'm deeply wiped out. I opened at 11:30, and closed at 8:30. That's a long, long day for me. I'm losing my voice. Trying to get ready to do it again tommorrow. There's a strange feeling in the air, no-one knows how to function without public transportation, it's the most used way of getting around here, hardly anyone has a car, unlike the rest of the country.
I feel badly for the people who had to get into work today. Many rode bikes or walked in 25 degree weather over the bridges, it's bitterly cold. Wonder how long this is going to last. Going to watch the news now, see what's up. Watch the traffic yourself with NYC Webcams! {Newyorkology via Curbed}
Transit strike is on! We'll see how this affects business. *sigh* Might be ok for us here is Brooklyn, as people cannot go into the cty to shop without a great deal of hassle, not to mention getting back with packages.
Opening up this week a bit early. I'm right next to a very popular bike shop, I wonder if they're getting hit with customers needing tuneups. It's below freezing out, BTW, 25 degrees. Right about now is when I'm very happy that I live 2 blocks away from my business. 12.19.2005
Pretty damned tired, have been sleeping till 10am the past two days, that's extremely rare. I have to go into the city and restock some things today, we may get a transit strike tonight at midnight if they can't settle. The shop's pretty bare, having been picked clean. Also, the heat was broken there yesterday, and I'm now fighting off a cold. Damn it!
Must.Hold.On. Boutiques are busy till New Year's Eve, it doesn't stop at xmas. Now having my granola and yogurt, then off for 6 hours of tramping around the garment district picking out some glittery party dresses/tops for the shop. Dogs at home happily chewing, chewing, chewing endless differently shaped rawhide. Murphy has recovered from his encounter with Santa. 12.17.2005
My friend Vivian who owns the shop across the street from mine, does this benefit every year for homeless animals. This year the proceeds from getting your dog's picture taken with her husband "Santa", go towards helping the animals left stranded due to Katrina. Murphy and Penny are glad to do their part. Penny might be a bit more glad than Murphy:
 {click for CU} {click for CU}12.16.2005
Getting pretty tired, operating in high gear, half down, another half month to go.... Fun party last night, making animated web ads for the Vanderbilt Ave. Merchants Assoc. this am. There's so much goodwill this year, it's so nice.
12.15.2005
Incredible Clown Sweater on Wil Wheaton. Really, I WOULD wear it! I mean it!
Got in a large group of the most beautiful Jane Diaz matte silver earrings, rings and necklaces, spending today pricing, etc. I love her work, and it's mostly what I wear all the time. 12.14.2005
BE AWARE this season of your credit and debit card purchases! I just found out from my banks credit card fraud unit that someone tried to use a copy of my card in the Philippines twice recently! I'm shocked and angry. I had a sneaking suspicion last week something wasn't right, called them to look into it, and they just confirmed it! Damn it! I'm so pissed! The small amount of trouble it'll be for me to switch to a new cards number is very minor compared to the damage these assholes could have done if we hadn't caught it.
Be aware, check your statements, maintain a running balance. 12.13.2005
Ruth Marshalls gorgeous knitted pelts. I'm rarely interested in knit objects that are not practical, but I really, really like these.
I've decided lately to make a very concerted effort and make time to spend with people I care about, and reconnect with old friends. Here's a picture of a tired Mr. Tom Marsan, recently back from an animation art director gig in Korea, after I ran circles around him for about 5 hours this afternoon. We took a trip to School Products, {he's got a talented knitting sister and niece} to pick out some yarn presents for them. I made him walk faster than he's ever walked before, and also jaywalk, more than once. Sorry, Tom! That hat is one of the original Marsan Watchcaps! Knit 12 years ago, I was stunned to see it still in service!  12.12.2005
I'm re-organizing/cleaning the sewing center {kitchen} today, and knitting/sewing fancy dresses later. Am all talked out.
Have over thirty pieces in various states of completion. Tackling that pile now. Variations on topless hats for men commence:  These things are like palate cleansers for me. 12.10.2005
It seems that possibly many thousands of people are going to get Glittens this year, that pattern page has been getting hit really, really hard for the past couple of weeks. Damn. Super busy at the shop, enjoying it immensely. {Thank you Grandpa}
I'm going to bake cookies next week. Something fancy, not sure what yet. 12.08.2005
{Update} Topless hat pattern is now complete: below.
I've always loved them, and yes, I happily have one. {Without the diamond, though, Swarovski crystal in this case}. About 5" tall. This is getting embroidered/appliqued in a new series.  My knitting tension has changed drastically, for various reasons, I've changed how I hold and throw {ganglion cyst, anyone?}. I'm a very tight knitter now. Twisting tightens up your work also. SO, had a bit of time yesterday, and cast on for a Marsan Watchcap using #10.5s and one end worsted weight Brown Sheep combined with one end KnitPicks variegated sock yarn. 10.5s! Not 7's! damn, even with another end added.... Realized after a few rows there was not enough sock yarn {partial ball} to complete an entire hat, so it became a ski headband, like I remember from back in the day, and uses up small amounts. Keeps those "won't wear hats" ears warm. deeply easy to knit: Topless Hat {Ski Headband} 2005 mens size medium  {click for CU}#10.5 US circular 14"-16" needles One end Brown Sheep, worsted weight One end KnitPicks variegated sock yarn "Parade" Gauge: 3.5 st. per inch, 4 rows per inch Cast on 72 st moderately loosely, using yarns together as one strand. Join, being careful not to twist. *K1, P1*, repeat*-* for 10 rounds, twisting every stitch, both knit and purl. Round 11: Bind off moderately loosely 22 st, continue round in pattern, turn at beginning of bound off section. Continue in pattern for another 10 rows, turning at the ends of non-bound off sections. {you're knitting flat now}. Turn, bind off all stitches moderately loosely, in pattern. Tuck in ends. To adjust size, increase or decrease stitches in increments of 2. These could even be good layered over another knit cap on frigid days. __________________ 12.07.2005
I just want to state publicly how very glad I am to have been able to remain friends with just about all of my ex-boyfriends {those not deceased], {exception for that one, horrific creep: rot slowly in upstate hell, won't you?}. It makes me happy. We know each other well, there's no unspoken {will we or won't we} weird tension, and we're happy for each other's triumphs, sorry for the dips. It's a lovely conclusion/continuation of life. Yeah! This is good. For someone like me with no close family to speak of, it means alot.
Super Happy B-day {soon}, Mr. M! Welcome back, A! Back to our regularly scheduled knitting hooie... 12.04.2005
Shop window today:
 {Click for CU}Currently in stock:only 5 more copies of the hard to get Jessica Hutchison "Unusual Toys for You To Knit and Enjoy", right next to the naughty panties. A charming knitted toy pattern collection! $9. if you want one, email me at staceyatredlipstickdotnet. OR Jess will have them back in stock on her site later in the week. Jess currently has a new & free knitted "Kitten in Britches" pattern on Knitty! Adorable. Gratuitous Cuteness:  {Click for CU}12.03.2005
Dead camera battery.
12.02.2005
Finishing/washing/blocking this am, 7g machine knitting more bodices for dresses, handknitting hats, making incremental progress on writing patterns, running the shop is taking all my non-studio time right now. This is going to be a tough month.
I hung shiny little lights in a swag pattern in the shop window the other day, it looks so pretty! I'll have pix tonight. My neighbors have also hung their lights, our little block is so much more cheerful, I want some snow now. I find myself completely unable to listen to saxaphone music of any type. I just hate that sound. I'm taking off the first two weeks in January. You can tell I need it whe it gets to this point. |
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