New Beginnings and a tail of woe

Poor Pickles has had rough a time of it lately...

First he got fixed, then tattooed (not even cool one by Kat Von D), then micro chipped (no privacy left in this big brother world)! When he got home he had a staple pulling at some skin so he ripped one of them out and had to go back to get RE-STAPLED and how traumatic was that?

Now he has to suffer the indignity of wear a cobbled together onesie (Dr T HATES cones, he thinks they are inhumane and a last choice, and after seeing how well Pickles does with the cobbled together onesie I have to agree, this is a way better alternative!) to stop him from pulling out more staples/licking himself crazy, now he has to see Max laughing at him all the time.


You can totally see the smirk Max is hiding can't you?


But now Max is kissing him all better. In fact they have spent a lot of time kissing this last couple of days. Chris thinks its because they have the stink breath and like it, I prefer to think of it as a sign of affection. I'm sure Chris is right. :)


So on Monday I had some big decisions to make, one of which involved quitting my job. I have some really cool things in the works so think good thoughts for my new endeavours. Exciting times lay ahead...

Get down with the Sickness

Because apparently it is a sickness. This sock thing that is. Oh honestly.. I have it BAD too.. even Pickles thinks so.

Short socks for Chris out of Mission Falls Superwash. Hurray stash buster! These even felt like cheating cause they only took a couple of hours. NICE!


Now socks for me. Shibui sock (my new favorite!) and these only took a few days too.

And oh ho, thanks to the Knitting Grammy I am on to (yet) another pair!

This Knitpicks Tweed is AMAZINGLY soft and yummy to work with. Like WOW! WIPEOUT! Oh Nana.. you rock my (haha!) SOCKS!

So in the pursuit of happiness, this weekend led me and DANA THE ENABLER to hunt out more Shibui. While she was able to resist the siren call I alas. was not so lucky. Or maybe I AM the lucky one...

Like come ON! These are so silly.. OH YEAH!

Those ones up there are destined to be my CrAzY (Loser) socks. As for the beauteous blue ones beneath, Chris will have some more hand knitted goodness.

This morning I took Pickles into the vet to become like all Mars Bars made in Canada.. NUT FREE. haha. Max was none too impressed that Pickles got a car ride without him, but I think he'll understand when he gets back from the vets. And I'm sure will be laughing at him the whole time. Poor Pickle pants! Max is at a bit of a loss without him here, but is enjoying a much deserved rest.

Victory of Da Feet (groan)

Well well well...





So really, how stupid easy was this? Toe up, Turkish cast on (LOVE!) short row heels, and VOILA! You got a sock. Do another. YOU HAVE A PAIR. Who knew? It took a few hours each, (and probably would have been shorter if I hadn't been trying to watch a movie that scared the shit out of me about killer dolls which caused me to drop some random stitches and pick up other random ones. Note to self.. never knit while trying to cover/ing your eyes . Durr. Sorry about the craptacular photos, I now understand the lamentations of sock picture takers eveywhere.




Socks that Rock (and I take back everything I said about this stuff.. and really regret trading away the blue colourway now) heavyweight. in Purple Rain. I have enough for another pair! WOW! 50g a sock is pretty smack on. On the needles now and pair for Chris using up some Mission Falls Superwash in 3 different colours. I've had to rip them out a couple of times (yes you need the foot there to try it on) but I'm so happy about the Turkish cast on, I just DON'T CARE!


Pickles is back from the groomers and I am kinda sorry I clipped his long locks off. Not that he isn't cute, but he looks so grown up. BUT his fur is so ridiculously soft I can't stop petting him. He has had a few slips these past nights and had an accident or 2 in our room, so we will be a little more conscious about when he eats. It had been getting a little slipshod (my fault) and I need to be more aware of it.


He is still our 6.30 am wake up call. Which apparently can really tire a puppy out.

Lace me up

No really.. who knew? Lace knitting? I scoffed at it. I was all "yeah, whatever.. " now..

WOW!

Ok so all drooling aside, I think may have it. The bug. Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino. 2 skeins. Country Garden colourway. Pattern is by Dana. Fall down dead from the gorgeous.

I need to make a public service announcement (with GUITAR!) I am starting some socks. Yes you read right. I'll go as far to say its an exercise my brain may have trouble with but WTF eh?

Now for a little stash enhancement. I hit it out to addies Material goods in Cochrane this weekend with the aforementioned Dana and looky what I found:

Dudes it was 40% off! And will make a lovely sweater yes? mm mmm! Also look what finally showed up:

Very pretty but I had such an unpleasant experience trying to get this stuff from Hipknits (in the UK), that I would never EVER order from there again. I would say the customer service was terrible, but being as it was pulling teeth to even get acknowledged I don't think I *had* any customer service. Emails went unanswered, and I was flat out lied to about shipping times. The product itself is lovely no doubt, but with the world being as competitive as it is, my dollars will go elsewhere. Shame that.

Now for a gratuitous puppy shot:


Take a good look cause he's going to get clipped tomorrow. Him and Max are just so darling together, they share a bed now, and even fell asleep touching noses last night. Oh my boys!

Picture pages

West Coast Represent!

Totally what the hardcore WC's do on their days off from the hood. MINIGOLF! Dig that dyed blue water.

See.. the dog DID come with!

Obliagtory art profile at Chemainus (home of awesome burrito guy Pierre!).

Myspace angle. But aren't we cute?

Hey look.. BALLZ. Hahahahahaha I am so 15.

Jakes new Daddy.

Someones gonna get spanx-ed.

Max as an only dog.. pre Pickles.

Zombie Simpson me. Thanks to photshop wizard Chris.

Max.

Pickles.

Knitting pictures coming soon.

Mable, Pickles and Max

Mabel (thanks Trish :))

8 skeins of Just Bamboo by Sirdar. My own pattern and can I say WOW! The mock cable (get it.. Mabel?) is so much fun to knit! This is by far the girliest thing I have ever designed. Super fun.

Now for more gratuitous dog picturrrzzz....

My shy leetle Pickles. YEAH RIGHT! A rare moment of repose.

Max who is still wondering when this interloper is finally going to leave. YEAH RIGHT!

And really.. DOG BUMS.

They are getting along really well for the most part. Pickles is already sleeping in our room at night with Max. We are leaving him to roam free in the house when we are gone with no real accidents. Knock wood... all is well. we love our dogs! :)

Introducing!

Pickles Chewbacca!

We went to meet him last night in Airdrie and knew it was love at first sight. We brought Mr Max, and they seem to get along amazingly well.. even if Max is a little boggled at the puppy-ness of Pickles. Our first night went really well.. no crying at all and we slept like babies. Pickles is a Yorkie Bichon Cross, and he was born on the same day as Jake! He is 5 months old and weighs about 8 pounds. OMG NEW FAMILY!

Stay tuned for "The Further Adventures of Max and Pickles!"

OMG I am so one of *those* people.

Pictures speak a thousand words right?

And this one says YUM!

Alrighty then.. lets get the knitting content out of the way shall we? I have been a busy little beaver this month. Truly Canadian. First lets go in order yes? You have seen this, but it looks ever so much better on the busty gal at work..




She has nothing on me I know, but still beggars and choosers. I wore this a whole lot on the Island as the weather had was pretty sketchy at the end. Rainy and damp, perfect sweater weather! We had a couple hot ones at the beginning, but not so much at the end. Which was ok as we came back to super hot, gross sweatyness. Like now. +33 ish. Yuck. Oh well.. in a few months I'll be bitching about the cold. /shrug.

This is out of the Reynolds Mandalay 100% Silk, it took a mere 5 skeins, and knit up in less than a week. I think it will be lovely (and WHOOPS! I forgot to steam block it!) over a little sundress (that I have yet to find, but that's just another reason to go shopping right?) in the evening. I learned the applied Icord from the ever fabulous Dana, and think its a new fave for sure. Its a lovely finished edge, and make everything look so Jackie O. Very sweet.


See what I mean? Nift-o-rama! I did the increases on the wrong side and like the way they came out too. Lots of texture.

Now for another foray into lace-ish knitting for me. This is SPECTACULAR if I do say so myself. The yarn, the pattern, the WOW factor is high for me you see. The first two photos are unblocked, and I thought they were pretty nice until...

I GET IT NOW!! OMGWTFBBQ! Holy crisp gorgeousness! This is sosososososososo pretty! And makes me want to knit more lace. I think the darkside is calling. It was the pattern on the seasilk too if anyone was wondering. Easy and fun to knit, and weighed nothing on my lap even in the most sticky situations. MOAR PLEASE!

So as far as Island yarn goes: I went I saw I came away with some. but not a whole lot. I picked up some Koigu for (again) the lovely Dana who made sure my house didn't burn down/get infested with zombies and pick up my mail. And some of this:

It is on its way to becoming an off the shoulder top down (maybe sleeveless/cap sleeved) top. Its a woven ribbon, and is nothing like anything I've worked with before. I'm digging it. Its nice and light and makes a pretty fabric as I click along.

The vacation was well deserved by all and was enjoyed immensely. I can't find the snaps on the puter yet (CHRIS WHERE DID YOU HIDE THEM!?) but will post some fun when I do. The wee dogga had a fantastic time, and travelled very thankyouverymuch, and was the belle of the ball. Chris' Grandma in particular was quite taken with the "darling little doggie" she affectionately called him. He was doted on and really loved the whole house having carpet. :)

Now its back to real life...

when will I win that lotto dammit?

Simple really

Et Voila!

I am pretty freakin' happy with this loverly FO. I did a few alterations to the pattern (and who knew no gusset under the arm would work.. but IT DID!) like changing the sleeves completely to my taste. It fits beautifully, feels divine and looks spectacular. I will hopefully get some better pictures of this soon, the bed makes for shit model I know. As for whassup next, I have a little shrunken cardi in mind made of this lovely:

Which was de-stash score from the lovely Morgan (who I miss! Damn you work getting in the way of socialising!). Its Reynolds Mandalay 100% silk. I think I may have an addiction to the smell of silk right now. I keep taking deep huffing like breaths of it. Its only a problem if it interferes with your daily life yes? So far I can do this without attracting too much attention to myself. Ha!

In other news.. the trip to the Island looms near and I am so on top of things its scary. The wee dogga is going to the vet to get heartwormed and flea proofed. We have a soft carrier for him lined up, and I even have someone coming by to check the mail. Who is the organised person? Strange.

We bought a Wii! It is sucking a little bit of knittng time away but I am careful not to overdo it as I already can see how one could develop a freakishly oversized bicep if one isn't careful to switch up hands. loser.

AND Sephora opens today. Well its their *soft* opening at 6 pm tonight, the grand one is tomorrow. I have told Chris NOT TO BE LATE HOME TONIGHT. THERE IS NO EXCUSE! Walking past it Monday I noticed the paper all off the windows and I almost crashed into the door. The ladies inside laughed at me. Whatever.. if Bath and Body Works ever opens here.. I NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY AGAIN.

here's hoping!

:)

Not a cat person

I know.. nickname is kittin. But I have never been or ever expect to be a cat person. BUT



I have died from the cute. Ok, blogger won't let me embed this so just double click on it to go to YOUTUBE and watch it for yourself. DIE FROM TEH CUTE.

There will be actualy knitting content on here soon. I am almost done the Knitted Simple Bodice and it is luscious beyond belief. Urban Silk.. I less than three you.