my iPod hurts today

In the category of "research" I listen to podcasts. This is really because I can. I like to listen to people talk about knitting and I listen to a LOT of knitting podcasts. The thing is, that many of these have been going on for awhile and I am trying to start at the beginning (well, I listen to the most recent epi and then start at the beginning because a lot of GOOD information comes out of podcasts. Now, I think I broke my itunes, I currently have 110 unlistened to podcasts on my ipod. I think it is screaming at me to get some off. And I am doing the best I can, but for everyone I listen to, I seem to find another 5 episodes somewhere else. I was down to about 60 after my trip to LA, but that was a month ago and I have just been downloading like a crazy woman.

I am current on all the blogs I read. Bloglines is a savior!!

Look - a FO!!!

And here is the Clemintine Shawlette from IK Spring 2007. Yeah - these pics suck as my camera batteries were about to DIE! But hey - at least I posted something. This is knit in Blue Sky Alpaca Silk in plum and ooooo is it pretttty! The picture here, as well as the pics in the mag, do it NO JUSTICE! it is a beautiful, soft and wonderful quick lace shawlette. I am pretty darn pleased.

Also - a couple of comments regarding my podcast have mentioned the excel sheet I am using and that I had a mental moment on the site I got it from - katydidknits.blogspot.com is where I got it from.

I am getting a lot of REALLLLY positive comments. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

Episode 4: I'm a Yarnophile is up!!

Yes, I am a yarnophile. This week I talk about all the yarn the yarn fairie was nice enough to bring me this week. And it was a lot. No really, it was a lot.

Webs Anniversary Sale is still going on. From them I got some Cascade Cloud 9 and Cascade 220.

I got some beautiful sock yarn from Its a Colorful Life on Etsy. I am in love.
My Hill Country Sock Pattern contest yarn came! Instant gratification in Hot Fuscia. Details on the contest and a link to order the yarn are on the blog.
I bought some EL Silky Wool.
And Olivia sent me some Knitch Handpainted sock yarn and a cool t-shirt!!!

FOs
Two Toned Ribbed Shrug from Fitted Knits by Stephanie Japel
Some Warm Up America Squares
A Scarf for the Mary Read Memorial KAL.
Fetching in Artyarns Cashmere 5.
Clementine Shawlette from Spring 2007 Interweave Knits in Blue Sky Alpaca Silk Plum.

WIPs
Eyelash scarf for the Mary Read Memorial KAL.
Pinwheel sweater for Danielle.
Lacey Lamb Scarf in Jade Sapphire's Lacy Lamb in a seafoam green. I just hunted the website and there is no info on this yarn or pattern. *sigh* its a lace weight - I don't have the ball band here sorry.
Candle Flame Shawl in EL Silky Wool.

Charity Knitting opportunities
The Mary Read Memorial KAL. See the links above.
Prayer Shawls for VT families - contact me if you want to send one and I will get you the info.
Warm Up America Square Drive continues at Crafting for a Cause.

I joined the Bellocq Stockings KAL. holy crap there are some great and inspiring pics over there!!!
Rainy Day Creations is having a spinning class in May.
Lime n Violet updated their etsy shop Friday, but sad for you, it is all gone now. Listen to their podcast!!!

Mary Read Memorial KAL

There is a memorial KAL for VT victim Mary Read at maryreadmemorialkal.blogspot.com. Please go check it out. Mary was a knitter who passed too too young.

oooo...pretty!!

So today I wanted to buy yarn. But I talked myself out of it. As a reward, the sock fairy visted and left my latest etsy purchase AS WELL as my Hill Country Yarns HOT FUSCIA!!!!

I will take some pictures and post later. really I will. *snuggles the yarn*

Audio is fixed!!

Well, now I sound like I am in an auditorium in Episode 3 rather than my house, but YAY you can hear me better. A GIANT thank you to the mega talented Robert at Bobville who I am lucky enough to have as a friend. He cleaned up my audio for me - and since he is freelance and uber talented you can contact him if you need assistance with audio or web things. He recently made this uber cool thing in Misty Lee's photo gallery to make the cards interactive!

You many also recognize Robert's work as Capnbob - the man responsible for such goodies as Lost Rhapsody, Lost Rhapsody 2: Electric Boogaloo and the most recent Dad in a Box! If you haven't seen these yet - get out there and watch them!!

Episode 3: OMG I need HELP!!!

So here are the show notes I promised. We shall see if I remember everything. Luckily I have notes however they are not in the order that I really talked in. Sorry about that. And I just heard there are some sound issues. See what happens when I change mics to one that is supposed to be better and to a room that I think has less ambient noise???? *sigh* I could hear just fine when I replayed. Sorry. I suck. I will do better. Next time we will move back to the office and the other mic.

I went out to LA this week and was lucky enough to visit Unwind. Great shop and you can shop online. I bought yarn. I took Capnbob to the yarn shop with me along with some other friends. He loved the yarn. No really, he did.

Books:
I said I would review Knitting Heaven and Earth: Healing the Heart with Craft this show - but I haven't finished it. SORRY!
Victorian Lace Today by Jane Sowerby makes me VERY happy and it has Victorian Ruby (my illfated 3rd project EVER) in it - maybe I will finish it now. I really love this book. The photography is BEAUTIFUL. And there is a great section in the back about reading charts and stuff if you aren't the chart reading type but want to learn.

I taught my friend Danielle to knit while I was in LA. Turning the world tot he dark side of yarn one addict at a time.

Other Stuff:
Hill Country Yarns is having a sock design contest. If you love knitting socks - well - head on over there and throw your hat in the ring ... er...sock. $15 enters you and gets you a skein of yarn in your choice of color (they choose the weight).

The Knitoff is over for me - but still going! Congrats to the ladies who made it to the semi-finals.

WIPs:
Monkey socks in TOFUtsies
Fitted Knits: 25 Designs for the Fashionable Knitter Two-toned Ribbed Shrug in Cascade 220 (9477) and Cascade Quattro (9436)

Community Stuff:
Crafting for a Cause is up and running. We are really moving over there and we are getting a couple yarn shops to help us collect Warm Up America squares for our drive. Lots of information coming over there about it.

YARN!!!!
Oh yeah - I bought some yarn. If someone can please direct me to a 12 step program for yarn addicts, my budget would be very happy.
Midnight Sky Fibers - Caravan Monthly Yarn Club and Magic dragon box which I refered to as the Mystery surprise magic box or some such silliness.
Blue Sky Alpaca Silk in plum to knit the IK Spring 07 Clemintine Shawlette (the pics in the mag do it NO justice). It is sqooshy and makes me smile.
Artyarns Cashmere 5 ply in 130 Petal Pink Chocolate - It feels like heaven and looks like neopolitan ice cream. Enough said.
Louet Gems in black for Stitch Diva's Bellocq Stocking Collection - holy crap I was expecting good - I wasn't expecting that freaking good. And the mega plus is that The Loopy Ewe shipped it the next day!!! I love The Loopy Ewe!!

A quick shoutout to BOBBAY!!!!

I think that is just about all of it from this epi. Seriously, I need a prorgram for yarn addicts.

There and back again!

I have returned from LA where I took a trip to Unwind in burbank. I really enjoyed my trip in and I bought way too much yarn (but all for projects I already decided on). I will talk about the shop and the yarn in the next podcast!