A Million Different Things

This week has been a busy one. Monday I ran around campus going to class, to the health care center, to Academic Advising, to career services, and then finally that night I went to work. Tuesday, I met with my adviser to discuss classes for next year, went to work, went to class, and then bummed around with Kate my RA. Wednesday was class, a nap, dinner with friends, Cold Stone with Courtney, and my first meeting of the UNC's GLBTA club In & Out. Afterwards, I went to Village Inn with the group and stayed up late eating onion rings and talking about a million different things. Thursday I ran around campus hanging with friends and going to meetings, squeezing my macroeconomics class in between.

The meeting I went to Thursday night was for the UNC Feminist Alliance. We talked about different issues affecting women on campus like getting better health care and insurance coverage for female university students, having a pro-choice rally next week, and why is a man considered a stud but a woman is a slut. After the discussion, we joined the College Democrats and made t-shirts with pro-choice slogans. Pictured here is the shirt I made and I'm very excited to wear it!

Now finally, I have photographic evidence of The Finished Sock. In fact, I've even already turned the heel and shaped the gusset of the second sock and now just working on the foot. A lot of people have been very interested in my knitting since I've been taking the socks everywhere. There has even been talk about starting a Stitch'n'Bitch to be sponsored by the UNC Feminist Alliance. The finished sock is pictured here with a Barnes & Noble bag, which holds Easter presents for my little sisters. Oh, that and a couple things for me.

To my Catholic readers, I hope you have a happy Good Friday and a very happy and blessed Easter. Sunday I will hopefully spend with my parents in the Denver area if they can ever tell me what the plan is!

FO: Showers in Spring Dishcloth

Pattern: Showers in Spring Dishcloth

Size: One Size

Yarn: Cascade Pima Tencel

Needles: US 7 Knit Picks Options Harmony

Mods: None.

Started: Sometime in early March.

Finished: Sometime while I was home for spring break.

Thoughts: I really like this yarn even though it sheds ever so slightly on really dark clothing; I will probably knit with it more in the future. The pattern was well-written and the image is cute! I think this will be my washing my face cloth since it is sooooo nice and soft.

Playing Catch Up

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was home for a week in March for Spring Break. I love going home, where the rest of my yarn and craft supplies live. Even better is all of my mom's craft supplies, scrapbooking stuff in particular, is at my house. A couple years ago, I just got completely hooked on scrapbooking. With all addictions, I have to pass it along to my friends. So last year, I gave my best friend Melanie a scrapbook of her very own, 8.5" by 11", with the promise that I would make some pages for the book at a later date.


During my time home, I finally was able to to! The first page pictured here is the "cover page" of the album, with a lovely quote by Maya Angelou: "Precious jewel, you glow, you shine, reflecting all the good things in the world." The background paper for that page was from the Rockstar Stack, which is filled with some very awesome paper. The second page pictured is from our high school graudation last year. Oh how we hated those stupid yellow robes! The actual graudation ceremony wasn't too bad though since Mel and I sat next to each other, so we were laughing way more than we were crying.

Speaking of Melanie! Last night we made official plans for the No Doubt/Paramore concert in May, including her coming to stay at my new apartment with me for a little while. I can't wait to see what kinds of things we'll create then!

Coffee and cashmere,
Lulu

Currently Addicted To...

So much for being back, right? It's been over a month and this time, I HOPE, I am back for good! My spring break was a couple weeks ago, during which I caught my little sister's cold that rendered me pretty much useless for well over a week.

Now that I'm feeling better, better being a relative term, I've been actually doing stuff. Lately, I've been totally hooked on Cherry Lime cokes from Sonic, the Knitmore Girls podcast, used book sales, and knitting my first sock.

Yes dear readers, you read that correctly. Lulu is knitting a sock! The first picture is from Wednesday the 1st: behold the sock and the books I purchased from the Friends of the UNC Library used book sale.

Speaking of this used book sale, I'm so glad I finally got to check one out. The university library hosts one every first Wednesday of the month. I picked up four books, including a basically brand new copy of The Choice by Nicholas Sparks (one of my favorite authors) for a mere seven dollars.

I did not want to put that sock down all day Wednesday. That night I started turning the heel. Yesterday I finish turning the heel and shaped the gusset.  During last night's meeting of the UNC Feminist Alliance, I worked on the foot.  Couple more inches and I'll shape the toe and be finished with my first sock!  This picture was snapped this morning, proof of how addicted I've been to this little sock! Even if I never knit the second sock, I will be very happy with myself.

For the record: the pattern is the Campfire socks from Cider Moon, knit with Lorna's Laces Sheppard Sport in Daffodil. I'm knitting them on size 3's.

So what's been going on in your lives?

Lots of Love,
Lulu

I'm Back!!!

Oh man, it's been weird not blogging, but I think the break did me some good.

First of all, my brother is doing much better. He is back home in California with his dogs. I miss him but we still talk a couple times a week.

Secondly, I'm freaking broke. I got a speeding ticket and then a week later was in a minor car accident. I'm fine, but I'm paying for half of my deductible to get my car fixed. No more yarn money for me for a while...

I participated in two different swaps recently. The Ravelry Group Caffeine Addicts did a Valentine's Day themed swap, and I got my package the day before V-Day from Greymuse from San Francisco! Two different coffees, two mugs, two sets of stitch markers, a rubber "love rat" and a stuffed devil bear, and five skeins of yarn!! Plus, I think I've made a good friend in Greymuse. The second swap was a $5 card and candy swap for my Teen Knitting group on Ravlery. I got several small circular needles so now I have needles to make the Argyle Beret!

I have been knitting too! I don't have any recent photos to show all the yarn off because I can't find my camera charger cord thingie. (God-forbid I left it at home and won't get it until March...) I'm currently working on the Uncle Argyle scarf from the latest Stitch n Bitch book, which will become a sample for my local shop back home. Other than that, dishcloths, a baby sweater, and a toy for my friend's new baby.

Hopefully I can get my hands on a camera soon so I can show everybody some pictures!

coffee and cashmere,
Lulu

Taking a Break

As of right now, I am taking a break from blogging. Until when, I'm not sure. I just need some time to get my life together I think.

Last week, my brother was admitted to the hospital in my hometown for congestive heart failure. Thank God my father brought him to the ER when he did, or else I probably would have been brotherless right now. I was able to go home for a few nights to spend hours at a time at Tony's hospital bedside. Monday night, he was alert enough to know I was there, which I think was a comfort to us both.

Over the past week, it's been a series of ups and downs for both my dear brother and the rest of our family. Tuesday night, I finally had to return to Greeley for school and for work. It's been very difficult for me not to be there and to furthermore, be alone and isolated up here.

So my dear friends, I am on hiatus until further notice.

All my love,
Lulu

Howdy, Hi, Hello!

And a happy belated new year! 2009 has been fairly good so far. I'm tomorrow morning to start heading back to school for the spring semester even though sometimes it still feels like I just finished last's semester finals although that was a month ago.

So what have I been up to? Besides lots of knitting of course...

• I got my hair cut, and I think it's the best haircut I've gotten in ages
• Then, I've been hanging out with my best friend Melanie as much as possible. On New Years Eve, we drove north to old Colorado City and then to Manitou springs. We even stopped at the new yarn outlet in Colorado Springs, where I bought yarn for Melly to learn how to knit! [Look forward to reviews on some yarn stores soon!] Some of the boutiques we visited were just amazing.
• I made stuff to eventually sell in my etsy shop, when I get around to pricing and photographing everything.
• I cast on for a sweater.
  
• I bought more yarn.
• Then got yarn to make a sample scarf for my hometown shop.
• And last but not least, I think I finally came up with some new year's knitting resolutions!

2009's knitting resolutions are...

1. Knit a sweater.
2. Actually knit a whole sock. I don't even care if I do a pair. I just want ONE handknit sock at this point.
3. Do my best to finish all my Christmas knitting before finals week come December.
4. Learn more techniques and get more adventurous with my knitting.
5. Teach Melanie to knit, which I've already been working on.

What are your knitting resolutions?

coffee and cashmere,
Lulu