"b" is for

...bada bling! i think i overdid the bling for arkansas. i have been in denial the whole way down the leg, the heel flap (though i do like the sparklies on the flap!), the gusset, and starting down the foot.




















so, i have this version on hold and have started another version with "just a little bling"!

just some sparklies on the cuff and 3 in the middle of each motif.
i will miss the glitzy heel flap.

if anyone wants to see me, i'll be down at the frog pond. someone pass me the pitcher....

"a" is for

...adrienne and arkansas!

i admit that i have never been to arkansas. yet, this is my state for the 50 socks- 50 states cd. i had to do some research as i am not familiar with all the wonderful things this state has to offer. my only knowledge of arkansas was that it was the birthplace of our 42nd president, william jefferson clinton. pretty lame, huh?

well, the most exciting thing i found out (at least exciting for me) is that arkansas is home to the only active diamond mine in the usa! yes, diamonds! sparkly things. perfect inspiration for...

yes! lace and beads!

lace, silk, and sparkly!
i am in heaven!

now, to actually finish knitting the sock and write up the pattern!

ps. i also learned that the ozark mountain range is in arkansas and that the mighty mississippi river runs down the eastern border of the state. arkansas is the only state where the state legislature voted on the pronounciation of the state's name (ar-KAN-sas vs. AR-kan-saw). (although our govenator does do a number on ca-lee-four-nee-ahh). but i still think "diamonds" are more exciting. yes, i am shallow like that.

my adventures at stitches west

i was a really good girl this year and did not buy very much. this may have been due to the fact that i was just getting over my second bad cold/flu for this winter. yes, it has been a very lousy winter. i wanted to buy some lace weight yarn but nothing really struck my fancy. and on hindsight, there were some indie dyed sock yarns i should have bought but didn't. i guess i really wasn't in the right frame of mind for stitches (and the weather was cold and rainy; totally yech!).

the ravelry passport was entertaining. jess and casey (gee, i thought he would be bigger- GRIN) are the cutest couple. wish i had thought to have them autograph my passport.

the fun part was hooking up with some on-line friends. it's nice to have faces match names. i enjoyed meeting the sockateers over at bluemoonfiberarts. i think i know how tina gets all those kits ready for mailing. those women have the endless energy of 5 year olds!!!!!! it's amazing!

nartian showing irishgirlie
how to "french" her scarf a la tapmouse's blog entry

tapmouse working on "serendipity"
and me working on the world's longest sock a la rockin' sock club style

(gads, i look like something the cat dragged in. please excuse me - it was rainy and cold and my hair "don't do rain". besides, my hubby made me get up at 5 am to ride down to the south bay with him. i am lucky that i still look awake!)

i did finish a pair of socks. are you wearing your sunglasses?

isn't a pair defined as "TWO" socks?!

on the left is "serendipity" (which i had to tweak. pathetic, huh? tweaking your own sock pattern...one that hundreds have knit just as it was written.) and on the right is a new pattern (yet to be written up) for crystal palace yarn in panda silk (my toes really aren't as funny looking as the picture shows).

the sun is out and it is a beautiful day in the bellybutton of california. excuse me while i go get a tan!

is it "startitis" or finishitis"?

i have a bad case of one of those things, for sure. i think it must be "finishitis" because i have no problems starting things. right now, i have on my needles (which i am actively knitting on; ie., not my projects that are hidden away where i don't see them so i can pretend that they don't exists):

1. mate to "zen garden" which had been frogged and needed to be reknit per observations in a previous post. (this may just be a case of "bad sock" time out until i finish the other projects listed below.)
   
2. i just need to knit the toe to the first of my panda silk socks. then i need to write up the pattern. this is a new design for crystal palace yarn. (i am loving the yarn; so why didn't i knit the toe last night instead of winding "dragon dance" (rockin' sock club kit yarn) into a ball?)
   
3. i am still where i was with "swan lake"...almost done. i could probably finish off the rest of the shawl in a day (if i were to pick it up to work on).

i have 3 things on the needles that could easily be finished up in the next two weeks. so why did i start on "serendipity"? i admit that i have been delaying the start of these socks, partly because i was scared that I would not be able to knit the socks so they look like the pattern. how embarrassing would that be?! but i thought it would be fun to wear these at stitches next week; although, i really doubt that i will finish them. for some reason, my family think that eating and wearing clean clothes are a necessary part of life. but start them, i did. and my striping is working out so far. thank goodness.

so, do i have "startitis" because i keep starting new projects or do i have "finishitis" because i am not finishing the projects i HAVE started? help me. i think i have a problem.

so, what's your problem?

ps. i see you guys lurking out there....