Lace Ribbon Scarf

I nearly choked myself at knitting circle last Wednesday, while stretching my unfinished lace ribbon scarf around my neck trying to convince the girls that I was done. By the time my dinner arrived, the girls said that I could cast-off.



My impatience was not because I don't love this pattern. I truly do. I would recommend this for an easy or beginner's lace project. It's easy to memorize, and knits up quickly. This was my second one in a row, so I feel that I got a bit burned out at the end.

I'm happy with the finished result. The cobalt teal (makes it sound less seafoamy-eighties and is a legitimate paint color) is one of my favorite colors. Plus, the superwash merino laceweight created a diaphanous material after blocking.

Next, I'll cast on for my Landscape Scarf again, which I ripped out due to a couple of mistakes. I barely mind starting over, the Koigu yarn is so springy and the picots so enchanting. Otherwise, I may take my summer knitting hiatus and work on my studying!

June To-Do List

Why is it that the small odds and ends of projects to wrap up can be more daunting than a monstrous project? As a recovering procrastinator, I think that my mom was right. If I would just sit down and get it done, the task would be completed in no time. I waste more time dreading finishing something than actually doing it!

I created an illustrated to-do list in order to delay the completion of said tasks further. (Perhaps I'm a ex-procrastinator in training...)



The most daunting of my small tasks was sewing the bottom of the quilt Mike and I nearly completed in 2006. We've been using it for two years, mind you. I did not understand the concept of a quilt sandwich at the time (it's called the Internet, why didn't I use it?!). I thought it made the most sense to create a duvet and sew the batting inside. Yes, I now know that it was the worst idea in the history of the world. You all are quite smart, and I know that none of you will ever do that! Lesson learned, and the quilt is still great. I fixed it the best I could, and am okay with it not being perfect.



My long term goal is to become a LEED Accredited Professional. I spent this past Saturday taking an all day course to learn about Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). I have a lot of studying and memorizing to do this summer, but I'm looking forward to learning, and hopefully taking the exam in the fall.

I may have completed some other small projects that I hope to reveal after some drying and daylight.

Post Card Swap

I found Girl Hula's blog by clicking through links of links of people whose crafts, art and photos I admired. She has such energy, and a unique way of looking at life. When she said she was doing a post card swap, I knew I had to sign up.

The theme is summer. We'll have to create and send about 15 postcards somewhere around the world, and in turn, we'll receive 15 postcards. Sweet, says the girl with the unreliable mail in her building!

I'm planning on using my gocco, and probably customizing the prints with watercolor or gouache. I have a thing for repetition. One of my (many) theories is that you can take any object, and repeat it over and over to create something cool. In the case of my summer swap, I'm thinking of popsicles, sprinklers, fire works, waterslides, pogo sticks and bikinis.

Chicago

Oh, Chicago. Every time I see you, you bewitch me with your stellar architecture, energy, music that makes me dance in your cute shops and all of my friends whom you now own. I think, we could live here! Then I remember bone chilling winters and something called "lake effects".



One of my favorite classmates from my interior design program was getting married at the Garfield Park Conservatory. It was a beautiful outdoor ceremony, with the most adorable couple and accents of hot pink everywhere.



And I do mean everywhere. My friend Meg is so creative, especially with those little details. When my date for the evening commented on how the watermelon martinis matched the decor, I knew that it was intended (and deliciously so).

They met while walking dogs and volunteering for an animal shelter, so in lieu of often cheesy favors that most people tend to trash (sorry, but they do--or they have them collecting dust in their house and feel guilty), they donated the money they would have spent to that local shelter. We got to leave after filling a take home bag of candies in shades of pink and red.



The best part of my long weekend was catching up with amazing friends. They're the kind whom I don't get to talk to or see very often, but when you do meet up again, it's like picking up a running conversation. That conversation where you tend to skip the mundane but jump right to what is important.

Or at least what is important to us. I don't think that everyone in college would match up their Tuesday and Thursday class schedules with their roommate so that they could drive to class, visit our favorite employee at the Burger King drive through (and try to get her on Oprah for being the kindest person ever), watch repeats of Wings on TV and fall asleep for a four hour nap before going to our second shared class of the day with a man so brilliant, he translated Kafka's "The Trial" from the original manuscript, but still wore overalls and sat on top of his desk. All this and a month of blueberry pancakes with whipped cream.



Cheers!

Engulfed in Flames

How fitting is it that I attended a David Sedaris reading on his new book titled, "When You Are Engulfed In Flames" while standing in direct sunlight on asphalt at noon during a hundred degree heat wave? It was so worth it though. I've read all of his books, but have never heard him read aloud. He was hilarious, slightly awkward and quite endearing. He even requested to see Lisa's knitting!



The crocheted Frankenblanket is coming along nicely. I cannot get over how fast crochet is, or addicting. I found it hard to put it down even when the air conditioner was broken. We're okay now though, and at least we have one to begin with!



I was tagged my Miss Hexagon Blanket herself, the lovely Dulle Griet. Since I am a co-founder of her blog-stalking fan club, I must play along.

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?

1998. I had just wrapped up my first year of college, a year of varsity water polo, and was living at home and waitressing. Heaven. My friend, Jay was still alive, and our old gang would spend every night playing Manhunt in the 5th street park, going to the beach, or sneaking into the pool at the Hall of Fame and diving off of the platforms. Awww. I miss living at my parent's house!

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order)?

Find my dress and finish packing for my trip.
Fly to Chicago tonight.
Finish floorplans in CAD for work.
Finally update my blog.
Charge my phone. STAT!

3) Snacks I enjoy:

Key Lime Pie
Peanut butter ice cream on a sugar cone with chocolate sprinkles
Mango
Pineapple
Funnel cake

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

I'd like to think that my goals wouldn't change too much if I had that much loot. But let's play along for a bit, shall we?

After taking friends and family on a trip around the world for a year (totally stealing my best friend Trey's lottery winning idea here), I would buy a house. A house on a bit of land but with neighbors nearby. We could have a barn in the back for Mike's studio, and a woodshop for us to share. I would build and re-furbish furniture as a hobby, and do interior design. I would have (and/or) adopt the grandchildren my mom is jonesing for. I'd buy a letterpress, some new clothes and a hybrid car. Oh, and perhaps I would build a waterslide park a mile from my house for people to use. I would hire a tutor and travel to Spanish speaking countries and learn the language. I would find an inventor or invent a machine that could launch people from far-away places through a chute into my new home. Each of my friends and family would have one in their house, so we could see one another whenever we wanted. Yes, it would be just like at the drive-through teller machine at the bank. And lastly, I'd put aside money for my brother's scholarship, and donate to other causes I support like Heifer.

5) Places I’ve lived:
Philadelphia, PA (almost 4 years)
Bloomington, IN (7 years)
Plantation, FL (18 years + summers)
Las Vegas, NV (a summer)

6) Six people I would like to tag are:
anyone who wants to play!

Excessive Embellishment

Remember those Koigu mill ends that I purchased last month?



They're waiting patiently to become a Charlotte's Web Shawl. This is my Make, Bake or Buy item for today. I cannot wait to start it, but I'm being good and waiting to wrap up other projects first. (Whom have I become?!)



Whenever this shawl is discussed, the conversation always leads to the fringe factor.

"Mariss, you're not going to add the fringe, are you?"

"Um, have I ever turned away from excessive embellishment that nobody else likes?"

Don't tell anyone, but I even thought of adding beads to the fringe too. Egads! I think that may be too much, even for me. But we'll see...

Ode to Grandma Huber

I've mentioned my Grandma Huber before. She taught me to crochet when I was a little girl, and the furthest I got was learning to double crochet. I think it's only fitting that I create my own afghan with the scraps from past projects by just doing double crochet.

Below is my beloved stash afghan my Grandma made, that my Aunt Sissy gave to me. It is one of my most treasured belongings.











When I look at it, I think of all of the projects that she made during her lifetime. I especially smile when I see the pink and purple (pronounced "puh-ple" once upon a time) that she let me choose for my own sweater at the age of three. In a few areas, the pink and purple are strategically placed next to each other. I was the first granddaughter, also known as "Princess #1". Sometimes I wonder if my grandma put those two colors together in the afghan because they were my favorite. It's a nice wish, right? (wink)

Here was my sketch for my own scrap afghan:



And, voila! Scrap afghan in progress. It is going to be huge, hideous and I will love it. Crochet is fast. I crocheted the equivalent of a scarf in a few hours yesterday. Of course, not a scarf that anyone would want to wear...but I'll make it work. Somehow.



I just hope I have enough stash yarn. I only want to use scraps from actual projects, and have tried to save a little from everything, even if it's only a yard. If I don't have enough, I will put it on hold and add on as I go.

It truly is my homage to my Grandma, wherever she may be.