Tuesday, October 13, 2009
'Tis the Season.....to spin.....knit...and shop
My knitting guru Christina and I have started a knit-a-long. She bought me the yarn for my birthday and it is soooo nice! It is the city tweed dk weight yarn from knitpicks and it knits up very pretty and soft. We decided on the Trellis and Vine Pullover from the Interweave Knits fall 2009 issue. It is a beautiful sweater and we were both really excited about it. I say were because I am no longer excited about it. It is the bane of my existence at the moment. For some reason I just DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE LACE INCREASES!! I have been trying for two weeks to get past the neck and it is laughable. Christina is already past the arms and on the body of the sweater and I am still at the freaking neck! I keep messing up and having to frog back....not to mention I don't really have a TON of time to knit so when I do sit down and get to do it, I like to make progress and right now I am making zip. Only when she is with me can I understand what I am doing because I just don't interpret it the right way.....it is so frustrating. But I will get past the lace part if it kills me....and it just might.
Robert Gerard has been a wonderful little boyfriend. This past weekend he took me to a very fancy restaurant called the Capital Grille, then on Saturday we went to outlets in New Hampshire and he started his Christmas shopping....he also bought me a new zip-up and wallet....love him! Then on Sunday (after he slept over ^_~) we went out to breakfast and ran some errands. All and all it was a fantastic weekend.
Then of course there is spinning. I actually found some time to spin this weekend! After I gave up on trying to figure out the damn LACE INCREASES on the STUPID SWEATER, I pulled out my lovely spinning wheel and decided to calm myself down. Spinning is a very relaxing and leisurely past time. It is simply pulling the fiber through your fingers while pedaling the wheel. Since the weather here in good ole New England is starting its quick decline into untter chilliness I decided it was a good weekend to start spinning again. When I looked at my wheel I realized that there was some plied yarn on my bobbin that I never washed or put in a hank. It was the fiber I spun on my spindle that Rob bought me all those many months ago! I washed it and measured it and it is about 108 yards of fingering weight yarn. I am going to use it for the ribbing, toe and heel on a future pair of socks =).
After I wrapped that up I got to spinning on some Spunky Eclectic fiber I had started a few months ago also. I cant recall the name at the moment but it has light brown and deep purple in it.....SO GORGEOUS! I have one full bobbin so far and I have started the second. My plan is to spin down the stash this winter and to have tons of beautiful new yarns to knit with and to gift to other people =). I have six bobbins so I am going to spin on all of the for 2 ply yarn ( so I will spin up 3 bumps consecutively) they ply them all at the same time! I figure this will make it a little faster and I can get the stash to a managable level. Like I said in an earlier post, I am a little ashamed at how much I have versus how much I have spun/spent. Oh well, time to fix my mistakes!
I will have pictures up tomorrow hopefully! Happy Tuesday!
Monday, September 21, 2009
This weekend was nice
The bins beside my door are gone (they held roving and took up alot of space) and everything looks much cleaner.....there is no clutter anywhere and what little there is I would like to get rid of also! Haha! Let me tell you what lit a fire under my ass to do all this........one word.....HOARDERS. That new TV show on A&E....it is awful! It is about people who are waste deep in STUFF and there are people who are trying to get them to throw things away and they CANT DO IT....like I am talking about 10 year old empty shampoo bottles that they simply cannot part with. I was watching it with my mom and I suddenly got up and had the overwhelming urge to clean my room and throw things away.....it was a spiritual experience haha.
When I was finished cleaning I sat on my nicely made bed and I knitted on my socks and watched supernatural.....it was lovely. I also started the seasons again...what can I say I am obsessed haha. I am knitting a pair of socks from the two-socks-at-once book. I am knitting them on one circular needle and is very tricky. The yarn keeps getting tangled and obviously the knitting is different because it is on one needle. The gusset looks the scariest....hopefully I won't ruin all my hard work by messing up!
I didn’t get to see Robert very much this weekend. Only Friday and for a few hours on Sunday which made me sad, I miss him and I don’t get to talk to him much with his new job =(..oh well...it will get better I am sure. I just hate missing him so much.....it is hard on my mental state.

Friday, September 4, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
4 Days til Disney and my Favorite Pics so Far
Isn't she soooooooo cute? Looks just like me!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Almost Ready
Monday, August 3, 2009
Trying not to be a Copy Cat
It is not anything major but she was saying how she and her friend email each other 3 good things each day and I thought I would give it a shot. I have no one to email so I am going to just post it here.
1.) I got to eat my lunch with Robert Gerard today, no matter what happens seeing him makes me happy
2.) My friend Christina and I are planning a knit along on the same project. We are going to try to get together as much as we can and see how our progress goes on it. I have never done a knit along so I was pretty excited about it.
3.) Crazy Aunt Purl is working on her first baby sweater and so am I! What are the odds? It actually looks like the same pattern, but it probably isn't haha.
There...those are my 3 happy things for the day. To be honest I couldn't think of anything else if I tried......everything is so stressful these days...knitting and Robert are my favorites stress relievers! Haha have a happy Monday!!
P.s 2 weeks til Disney!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Entrelac Scarf
Of course she had to be all logical and told me to look at all the other projects that I started and was excited about but never finished or picked up again. Then she asked me if I still wanted to do the scarf. She is right of course....I do have alot of projects that I have gotten bored with and have left forgotten....but in my defense I have never used very expensive yarn on these projects! I think that would motivate me to finish....plus I told her that I am going to go through them all this weekend and rip back all the ones I know I won't pick up again to lessen my WIPs. She laughed at me....personally I thought it was a good argument =P
Monday, July 27, 2009
3 Weeks
I usually have seperate savings for everything I need months in advance! I buy all my travel stuff and new clothes with it and I have my spending money too. I dont believe in being unprepared when it comes to money and I always have a back up plan. This time however, I have NOTHING! No plans at all, I am flying my the seat of my pants here people! I have no solutions to any problems and it is starting to piss me off royally.
The events of the past year of course have something to do with that. I had to buy a new car that decimated my savings ( not my apartment fund though, I touch that for no one!)....not to mention I had to pay another grand for my sisters baby shower, so this trip is not at a very convienient time since I have not really had a chance to recover at all. I am just so stressed about everything, I hate my job and want to leave but there is nothing out there right now.
Oh well....I am going to have to suck it up and deal. I know there are alot of people who are unhappy in there current situations and I should not be complaining. Sometimes it hard not to! The only good thing about going on this trip is that fact that it is Disney and even with all the problems I am having with going there.....at least I get to go.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Love is in the Air
The Bride and Groom
Me and the crazy co-worker who made me buy the pink dress (aka Tina)
P.s 8 weeks and I will be in Disney!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Tour De Fleece
I have decided to join this rather large spin a long because there is no pressure, no real deadlines and it is something that relaxes me and makes me happy. I am not sure what my goal will be for myself, probably something small and manageable. In other words I am not going to be spinning for a sweater because that it way too much, but I would like a small challenge. Something I have never done before. This weekend was the first time I had ever knit with my handspun yarn and I must say that I love the feeling of accomplishment! I have never knit a sock so fast in my life and I am dying to start the second one! I spun up some yarn a few months ago in hopes of making wool socks for one Robert Gerard and they knit up beautifully in the corriedale I spun! I think I smiled the whole way through it and never once was bored. I LOVE knitting with my handspun....so I need to make more....Enter Tour de Fleece.
So tonight I am going to dig through my stash and start making my goals in my head and maybe even post on the forums instead of lurking around them like I always do. Maybe make a few spinning friends over the internet...wish I wasn't so shy. Maybe this will make feel happier....make life a little less complicated. And just think of all the handspun I will have to knit with! I want hats and socks for the winter.....maybe a scarf but we dont want to get ahead of ourselves...ahem.
P.S. 9 weeks and I will be in Disney!......the happiest place on earth!...we will see about that this year.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
MA Sheep and Wool Festival
Meet Carlton the beta fish! Lol Rob just loves him, we picked him up when we were buying a new harness for Titan, isn't he cute? Haha, all in all it was a great Saturday =)
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Budgeting Away
So I have decided to make a hardcore budget for myself in order to replace some of the savings that were lost during the purchase of the car. This is going to be tramatic folks because all I am giving myself in $100 a week to spend. This includes gas, food, and gifts ( holidays and birthdays). Now this might seem like alot of money, I thought it did at first until I realized how much I eat out and spend on entertainment with one Robert Gerard. It adds up to ALOT! This will take alot of will power and will probably get very stressful if you think about it!
The Plan:
I opened a banking account seperate from the one that gets my paycheck direct deposited. This bank account will only contain $100 or less at any given time. I am going to write down my budget in a little notebook that will go with me everywhere. With this I will record my purchases for the week and deduct for my alotted amount of $100. When the week is up, I will replenish the funds to add up to $100 again. The goal here is of course to spend as little as possible so all that is left over at the end of the week will go into my savings along with the rest of my money that isn't used for bills.
I am going to take this budget for a test run this week to see how I do. It will definately take some getting use to, but I am hoping I can handle it. No more little extras, no more throwing away my money on silly things. If I make a purchase or want to, it needs to fit into my budget. The weekends are going to be the hardest because that is when I usually spend all my money, I MUST NOT BE WEAK! If I am ever going to get my apartment, this is how it has to be!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Disappointment Rears its Ugly Head
Evidently the car the was repossessed and the lien agency that has the title to the car hasn't sent it over yet and it will take about a week. I am so pissed I can't even see straight! They had the nerve to have me put down 3K and tell me I can have the car on Tuesday and now I have to wait a whole WEEK to get it! Like I said before my family only has one car between the 3 of us, so I called my mom all upset because we couldn't pick up the car.....and my mom called them.
Now my mom is not one to mess with.....I mean she puts the fear of God in people. I have seen her make grown men cry on more then one occassion ( I am not exaggerating, she really did) and personally I have never had the nerve to push her buttons. So she calls the salesman up screaming about how he ruined my first experience buying my first car and how I will live with this the rest of my life and so on and so forth. Basically at the end of the conversation I had a rental car and 4 free oil changes to use any time I want. God bless my mommy. I now have a Kia Spectra to drive around until my car is ready, not the best car...in fact I hate it but it gets from point A to point B right? Beggers can't be choosers I suppose.....
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Hmmm....How am I Going To Do This?
So my problem is......can I afford both of these vacations? I mean before August I need to shell out $750 for my plane ticket and annual park pass. The park pass alone will cost $500! I mean I could buy the $320 pass that Rob is buying, but since I am going twice the annual pass is more frugal, not to mention if I end up going again next year my trip will be even cheaper. Amy has points with Jetblue and said that she will buy my ticket for me for my birthday and Christmas present so I wont have to worry about that. And both trip I won't have to pay for the hotel because they are timeshares.
So the more I have been typing this the more I am realizing that I am taking two trips to Disney for less the $1000, so why am I complaining? It is still alot of money up front before August so I am going to have to save my tail off =(.....this month has been the most expensive month of my life between putting a down payment on my car and my sisters baby shower and it is only the 5th! Happy Cinco De Mayo to me! Lets see if I can pull any off this off without going into financial ruin!
P.S 15 Weeks from today I will be in Disney!
Monday, May 4, 2009
New Car!
This isn't the actual car but the pictures I took didn't come out because it was a little rainy when I bought it. Sun roof, power locks and windows...and my favorite...AIR CONDITIONING!! Something I haven't had for 3 miserably hot summers. Ahhhhh, but now I do =). I gave my sister my car because all it needs are new ball bearing which her boyfriend ( a mechanic) can fix no problem. She needed it more then I did and I wanted a new car anyways.
I have made preparations for my new car too, I canceled my spunky fiber club (i am sure i will rejoin eventually) and netflix which will save me about $30 a month toward car payments. I am going to be brown bagging my lunch and cutting entertainment costs. Hopefully I won't notice to much haha. I am not sure what the final payment will be, but the guy said $223 or under depending on what rate I get. This includes all sales tax, fees and a 4 year, 48,000 mile warranty! whoo hoo!!! And I got great, but cheap insurance through my work which will cost me about $90 a month through payroll deduction which is way better then I thought it was going to be!
I go down there tonight to sign all the final stuff and they register it in the morning! So tomorrow night I will be cruising around in my first new used car! haha
Monday, April 13, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
My First Superwash!

So of course I had to snoop around her shop because it was such a great deal and found out she has a fiber club! with all superwash merino! Can you tell I am in heaven? The best part.....it is $45 for three months of not 4oz but 8oz of roving! OMG!! That is the cheapest club I have ever seen!! The only catch is that you only get it every three months, so I am going to sign up for the June, September and December club. That doesn't really matter to me, it is totally worth it for that price! I will keep myself busy with the Spunky Club between months lol. Not to mention I will probably forget about it and when it comes I will be happily suprised! Weeeeeeee! Can't wait for June. Knowing me, I will be buying from her shop in the meantime =)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
New Handspun
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
More Compulsive Spending
South African Fine in colorway Tundra from Spunky Eclectic
And BFL colorway Riverwalk from Spunky Eclectic. Can you tell this is my favorite store to get roving? Everything is so pretty and never felted! I have had a few bad experiences so I like to stick to what I trust. The club fiber is coming next week and I can't wait to see what it looks like! It is like getting a present every month! Highly recommended.
So these colored are reserved for my drop spindle. I want to see how thin of singles I can spin on them since I am not have quite as much luck getting them thin on my wheel. Practice make perfect and I intend on practicing alot!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Etsy Purchases


Cant wait for them to get here, especially my spindle, I tend to spin thinner on spindles then on the wheel so I want to make a few bobbins full with it and ply it on the wheel to see what I get. I will give an update when I use it. Hopefully it will spin like a dream!
Monday, March 9, 2009
So Excited!
Friday, March 6, 2009
New Developments







And last but not least the prize on the bunch, 4oz of Alpaca wool in the Forcast colorway.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Feeling a little....uncreative
I loved to paint and draw all through highschool and part of college. It was my outlet and I always looked forward to it. I am not saying I was very good, not terrible, but not particularly good. I never found my own style and pretty much just did it for fun. Once I started knitting again I put it on the back burner and started focusing on other things. Then I started spinning and you know the rest. I have tried to doodle like I use to but it isn't really coming back to me and I feel really sad about that. Like I lost something very dear to me. Maybe I am just crazy and just need to work on it like I use to and I will fall in love with it again. Who knows.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wheel and First Handspun!
Yes I know, I need to start taking pictures during daylight hours, they are terrible! But the yarn is soooooo pretty! I wish I had more =(
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Dying to Dye


P.S 25 Weeks til Disney!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Valentines Day
So he calls me and asks which room I was in and comes up. He walks in wearing sweats and a long johns shirt. Not that it wasn't adorable (i love it when he looks comfy! means I will be comfy when we snuggle ^_~) but I was a little confused. I thought we were getting ready for a romantic evening. But before I could say anything he started pulling things out of his overnight bag. He cooked me an entire meal from scratch!
He had plates and silver ware, he brought fancy distilled water in glass bottles, homemade angel hair pasta with yummy sauce he made from scratch, a salad with candied pecans, peaches and spinach, bread with garlic oil, and ice cream for dessert! It was the most incredible this I have ever seen! To think how long it took him to do all this and the effort he put into it just so we could have a nice dinner in and I would have an awesome Valentines day =).
I was thrilled with the whole thing, I couldn't have asked for more! But he also gave me chocolates, the new hulk movie and Supernatural season 3.....what can I say, the boy knows me. I just love him so much and it was such a great night that I had to share! Thanks for making it so special for me baby! Love you!
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Waiting Continues

Anyways, I have decided that when my beloved wheel comes in I am going to try to take a half day at work or something. As soon as it is there I just want to head right over and put it together and start spinning. I will just tell my manager they are closed on the weekends and I need to go during the week to get it lol. They wont care as long as I get all my crap done....though I have been slacking since I bought the thing. I am always surfing the web! I need to get cracking on my work if I wanna get out early! ICKKKKKKK.....wont need to worry about that til it comes at least lol
P.S 26 weeks til I am in DISNEY!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Spending Spree! Someone Stop Me!
It started with all that roving I mentioned yesturday that I bought on impulse, then of course the $300 spinning wheel ( that I am tearing my hair out while waiting for) and now I went and bought more roving!

Not only did I buy this roving, but I signed up for the Spunky Fiber Club on the Spunky Eclectic website. It is $18 a month and they send you a brand new and unique colorway every month....doesn't that sound awesome? Yeah it did to me to, so I had to get it! That wheel had better get here soon....lest I keep buying all this fiber for it. Watch me be the slowest spinner in the world, wouldn't that be ironic?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Spinning Wheel Purchase...Guilt or Pleasure?



