A Lack of Oxygen

I am back at work today.  As most of you don’t know, I spent yesterday in my recliner, high on Benadryl in a feeble attempt to breathe.  Today, I am on slightly less effective (and fun) drugs and I’m back at work.  I came in this morning to discover that my manager didn’t listen to his voicemail yesterday, and therefore, the time sensitive items that I left *very* specific instructions on did *not* get done.  This doesn’t just affect our department, this affects the entire company from Merchandising to User Interface.  I was a little miffed, but managed to control myself.  So, not only am I behind on catalogs, but I’m having to update things manually in 4 systems constantly to keep up with live advertisements.  HARRUMPH!  Irritating to say the least.

Oh well, there’s not enough oxygen flowing through my body right now for me to be both angry and productive, so I have to choose the latter and just get things done.  So, now that I’m done venting, look at these links.  These are all now on my to do list.  I just need to get my craft room organized (HAH!) first.  Check out the other videos from ThreadBanger after watching the apron one.  I especially like the one about pet beds and spring cleaning.

Video: Apron from Jeans

Tutorial: Apron from a Pillow Case

Tutorial: Lunch Sack

Cool Book: Survival Sewing

More fun: Tyler and Sam rockin’ out with Chloe playing backup on the squeaky toy. (Sorry for the poor quality, it was a spur of the moment video taken on my digital camera with bad lighting.)

And look!  I’m still knitting…

SWTC Tofutsies in color 801 “Toe to Toe”.  Pattern is my own creation based on the Chevron & Feather stitch pattern from 365 Knitting Stitches a Year calendar.

Arse Over Teakettle

Need I say more?  Go listen to this episode of Stash & Burn.  GO!  NOW!

(Not listening yet?  It’s the YARN HARLOT!  Ah hah!  That got you…)

Apples & Wine

Smokey brought this poem to Stitch-In last night.  I wish I had had this to read to my cousin before she left yesterday (…at 3am.  We drove her to the bus stop to send her home.  Her underage, alcoholic boyfriend was getting drunk and abusing her.  Long story…  Let’s just say he needs a lot of stomping.)

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Women are like apples on trees. The best ones are at the top of the tree.

Most men don’t want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they just get the rotten apples from the ground that aren’t as good, but easy…

So the apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, they’re amazing. They just have to wait for the right man to come along, the one who’s brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree.

And men… Men are like a fine wine. They start out as grapes, and it’s up to women to stomp the crap out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with.

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Green Sandwich

This showed up on my Google Reader today from Serious Eats (originally from The Small Object):  How to make a reusable sandwich wrap.

This is completely clever and looks fairly simple.  It may result in a trip to the fabric store.  I definitely want to make one or two of these and cut out the bag I take my bagel in every morning.

Also, on a side note.  You can now view the items I share in my Google Reader.  Look in the right hand list of blogs and find the one that says “Google Reader Shared Items”.  Enjoy!

Busy Weekend

Here is a visual representation of most of my weekend.

Tyler waiting for his tricycle to be put together, in the box, with olives.

Serious rider in plaid pants.

From left to right: Apollo, Audrey, Chloe (the view from my dinner plate)

I had a house full of family and dogs.  Tyler spent most of Sunday running the dogs/my feet over in his new tricycle.   We won’t talk about the meltdown he had in the store when we took him off the display model…

I promise there was knitting and it will show up eventually.  I also transplanted most of my starts and thinned them.  Some of them are doing well, some of them are not.  I couldn’t find the wand to water the plants this morning so I stuck the noodle sprinkler on the house, pointed them all in the same direction and used that.  Funny looking, but effective nonetheless.

Lastly, I leave you with this.

Inara’s impression of roadkill.

May Has Arrived!

It’s May!!! I know, I’m as shocked as you are that I made it through April alive. As a reward for all of the overtime, the company sent us bowling yesterday. I won the award for “Fling’n & Bling’n” aka most artistic bowling technique. The judges were impressed by my hard throwing, sliding/surfing/leaning technique. I’m just thrilled that I broke 60 on both games (76 and 97)! My prize? Some “bling” from the dollar store. It’s a plastic silver chain with a dollar sign hanging from it. Oh yeah, I totally pimped my cube with that prize.

I also have finished a project already for May! Last night I knit the elephant pacifier clip from Itty Bitty Nursery. This one is for Miles who is an incredibly adorable 3 months old and was so well behaved for being passed from person to person at Chika’s birthday party. After having to wash the passie 3 times from being spit on the floor, I decided he definitely needed this.

I call him “Paci-Fant”. He’s made from organic cotton from FibraNatura’s Cottonwood line. The colors are blue and Austin. I made one modification to the original pattern. Instead of sewing the pacifier on, I added snaps to make for easy removal and sanitation of the pacifier. I just can’t see it getting clean enough in the washing machine… I’m already working on the flower version in two shades of pink in the same yarn. Total time to make the elephant was about 3 hours, including sewing on the snaps. I think the flower will take a bit longer due to all the fiddly bits, but I’m sure it will still work up quickly. With baby season on the horizon, I have a feeling a lot of these will be made over the next few weeks.

I also have a baby blanket on the horizon. Molly is pregnant with number two (she’s got the cutest baby belly!!!!) and has requested a blanket (like she needed ask!). I’m thinking the Moderne Baby Blanket in her requested colors of blues and browns. I’m sure I’ll end up using my signature Plymouth Encore Worsted because it washes and wears so well.

My nephew was also over this past weekend. He is fascinated with birds and loves to watch them. He helped me fill the bird feeder and then spent quite a bit of time standing on the couch, looking out the window at the birds. Chloe joined him, but I think it was because had her frisbee in his hot little hands.

These are my birds.

The red is a new color, but I’m pretty sure it’s a “mating season” coloring. Or, it could be I’ve attracted a new bird this year. Besides these little brown guys I have several doves, a blue bird, and a red winged black bird that frequent the feeder. I’m thinking about getting a bird guide to try and identify these little darlings. Any suggestions?

Lastly, I hit up the Master Gardeners Show last weekend. I bought a few plants in addition to the silver leaf tomatoes, assorted squash, pickling cucumbers, purple bell peppers, and hot peppers that are started in the house. I brought home a white eggplant, a spider flower, a morning glory, a trumpet vine, a several petunias, a sungold tomato and one other vine/flower that I can’t think of right now. I think planting will happen either this weekend or next. My lettuce are doing rather well, so I think I may have to make a second raised bed for the tomatoes. That means there’s a lot of crap in my future… At least it comes in sealed bags!

How Fast are You?

With all the overtime, I just haven’t had it in me to post lately. I am almost finished with a pair of newborn socks for a co-worker’s brand new baby. Once I double check it, the pattern will be up here for your viewing pleasure. I think I’ll add a couple of sizes to it, so it may be a bit. I know, I’m such a tease!

Besides working (and occasional knitting), I’ve made bread, and brownies, and more brownies, and other food… I’ve been having major food cravings lately. I’ve been thinking about food, reading about food, planning food, cooking food… I think I’m gaining weight just writing this!

Somethign Fun:
I found this earlier through one of my feeds… My personal best so far (today) is 112 wpm with zero errors. I’m currently ranked 579 of 129,395. Not too shabby if I do say so myself.

Random Survey

I needed a quick mental break and saw this survey pop up in my Reader, originally posted by The Life of Me & Mine.  View my answers below.

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Empire Magazine has revealed its list of the “50 Greatest TV Shows” ever. Below is the list and here be the rules.

1. Bold the shows you’ve watched every episode of
2. Italic the shows you’ve seen at least one episode of
3. Post your answers

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50. Quantum Leap
49. Prison Break
48. Veronica Mars
47. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
46. Sex & The City

45. Farscape
44. Cracker
43. Star Trek
42. Only Fools and Horses
41. Band of Brothers

40. Life on Mars
39. Monty Python’s Flying Circus
38. Curb Your Enthusiasm
37. Star Trek: The Next Generation
36. Father Ted

35. Alias
34. Frasier
33. CSI: Las Vegas
32. Babylon 5
31. Deadwood

30. Dexter
29. ER
28. Fawlty Towers
27. Six Feet Under
26. Red Dwarf

25. Futurama
24. Twin Peaks
23. The Office UK
22. The Shield
21. Angel

20. Blackadder
19. Scrubs
18. Arrested Development
17. South Park
16. Doctor Who

15. Heroes
14. Firefly
13. Battlestar Galactica
12. Family Guy
11. Seinfeld

10. Spaced
09. The X-Files
08. The Wire
07. Friends
06. 24

05. Lost
04. The West Wing
03. The Sopranos
02. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
01. The Simpsons

Fabric Nation

I made a recent visit to the fabric store.  I came home with several cuts of fabric in both flannel and cotton.  I’m pretty pleased with what I got.  Much of it will become baby bibs out of the new book I purchased Bend-the-Rules Sewing.  Some of it will just become part of the fabric stash for now.

I have paired the bib fabric together to show the stripes and complimentary prints.

I also made bread today, but since the batteries are dead on the camera, no pictures.  I can tell you it was delicious!

Instant Gratification

Just a quick post…  I think I’m in love with the Crochet Dude!  Well, not really… But I am very taken with his patterns!  While watching Good Eats this evening, I completed a set of four flip flop coasters.

I think I’m going to make the set double by making white ones with the thong part in the 4 colors pictured.  I may add yellow and/or purple to the set as well.   These are going to be the sample for a Saturday Market class at the shop.  I’m also planning to make a set for my cousin for her wedding.  And maybe a set for my friend who hosts our Tuesday night SNB.  And maybe a set for… Good grief!  These are addicting!

And then… the Cable Car Hobo bag!!  I’m pretty sure I had a dream about that bag last night.  It will be the perfect thing to go with my new paisley wallet from Torrid.  I picked that up tonight plus a pair of new shoes…   They were plaid, I couldn’t help it!  (I don’t think I should be allowed to go into Torrid alone.  Or with just Paula.  I’m pretty sure there needs to be a husband there to stop me.  It’s like I walk in and my brain is left at the door.)

The Noah’s Ark blanket is nearly complete.  The ship is half done, the Giraffe is almost done, so that just leaves the elephant, the bird, the fish, the turtle, and the rest of the ship.  I’ve also added this to my queue.  Like I said, crochet urges…