Stash Enhancement eXpedition

So I decided to have a little sex - stash enhancement expedition - this weekend. Even though I was sick as a dog I decided to got to the 10-50% off sale at Have You Any Wool on Saturday. Thanks to Amby for letting our little group know about the sale!. I also went to Joann's to look for yarn for a blanket I want to make. They did not have the color I wanted but I did not leave there empty handed. So here is what I bought.


Here is my little stash still in the bag.


Here is the stash laid out - sorry my photography skills suck.


This is 2 skeins of Cascade 220 in color #9454. This will be an Irish Walking Scarf. I love purple and this is a deep purple with dark blue and pink tones to it.


This is Lamb's Pride Bulky in Wild Violet. These will end up being Fuzzy Feet for me.


This is 2 skeins of Moonlight Mohair in Coral Reef. This will be a potato chip scarf and another scarf that I'm not sure of yet.


This is 3 skeins of Dive Teseo in color # 44146. I'm not positive but I think this will be a Branching Out scarf.


I also bought another size 8 needles (many upcoming projects need this size), a pair of size 11 needles (to make a Diagonal Baby Blanket for my cousin and her partner which I still need the yarn for) and some cable needles for the Irish Walking Scarf.

I am obviously not at work today. I took today off as my comp day for the seminar I had to go to last weekend. I am trying to get over this cold before I go back tomorrow. Of course the leaking ceiling isn't helping but that's a story for another day .....

One way to get in gear

So I have found one way to get myself in gear and make Clapotis - I have joined the Knitting Olympics. I give Stephanie a lot of credit for setting this whole thing up. I can not wait to get started. I love the Olympics anyway and this just adds to the excitement. I am planning on making it in Rowan Felted Twead. I will be sure to show my progress here.

I also want to try making some Fuzzy Feet. I have not tried making socks yet and I think this will be a somewhat easy introduction to the process. Of course since I finished my Booga in August and haven't felted it yet I would not expect to see finished Fuzzy Feet anytime soon.

I am happy - I got my profit sharing check yesterday and it was $200 more than I expected it to be. So I will be able to buy the tickets to take Jerry to the Lion King and have some left over to put into savings and buy myself something. This is great timing since there is a sale here that ends on Saturday. I will just have to make my way over there. Now I am off to eat dinner.

Short Weekend

So this has been a short weekend. On Friday 4 of my co-workers and I left for Chicago. We drove down to attend a training we had to go to. We were there all day yesterday in the meeting and drove back afterwards. We arrived back at our work around 11:30 last night so it was almost midnight by the time I got home. It was not fun at all. The only good thing was meeting people from other offices who I have only emailed or talked on the phone to. However, this brought out the scared little kid in me. I have major fears of being ostracized by people. I really want to change this about myself but I'm not sure how to. I also hate that I feel not included. I was sitting at a table with 3 other people - I was on the end, one of the people from another office was next to me and 2 of my co-workers were on the other end. The 3 of them were talking to each other and sort of ignoring me. I know they were not being mean but my feelings were so hurt. I really wish that I could be more outgoing so I could talk to people I don't know very well more easily.

Well enough with the pity party. I have not done much knitting the past week and I can feel it. I am so much more cranky and tense. I need to learn how to set aside time for me. I think that I am going to join the Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics and knit up the clapotis. I also need to start working on Jerry's hat again since winter will be over soon. I started my finished objects blog and have 2 items in it - check out the sidebar. And now I am going to bed.

What am I doing?

I think I must be crazy because I am thinking of starting something else that could take up my time. I had to go to Wal-Mart today to get some things and I decided that I was going to stick to one of my New Year To-Dos to buy myself something nice. I wanted to see if they happened to have one of my all time favorite movies - Clue - on DVD but they didn't. So I wondered over to the craft aisle. I was just looking around since their yarn selection leaves something to be desired. No offense to anyone out there who loves it but I used Red Heart once and HATED it! Anyway, I came upon the bead aisle and I found something. I bought 2 packages of purple beads (from lavender to dark), some hooks and an organizer and I can now make beaded stitch markers. I don't have enough time to knit or read and now I am adding beading to the equation - it makes no sense. Though maybe I can get good enough that I can sell these and make some extra yarn money - that would be cool.

I must go back to my knitting and the Golden Globes. I am so glad that Reese won! She is one of my favorite actresses and cute as a button!

No words

I have no words to describe how bad I feel. My aunt, the one who I have been knitting the frog dishcloth for, passed away yesterday. She was such a wonderful person. She was honestly the funniest person I have ever met. I also admire the fact that with all of her health issues and chronic pain she was not a complainer and she was always making jokes and had a smile on her face. I will miss her so much. Having her around always helped fill the void of my mother's death - she was my mom's only sibling. Now the void is even bigger because she is gone. I am going to take the frog off the needles for awhile but I will finish it as a tribute to her and everytime I use it I will smile. Goodbye Auntie Linda - I love you!

Down in the dumps

So I definitely have the January blues. I love the newness of New Years Day but that wears off after a couple of days. I am finding myself snapping over little things and wanting to cry. Today was better since it was in the 50s and sunny. However, the cold and snow will return tomorrow.

I am hoping to get some work done on the template this weekend but I am not sure I will have time. We need to go visit my aunt in the hospital and I think my in-laws have finally decided to take the whopping 30 minute drive to our apartment on Sunday. I mean we have only lived in the apartment since September of 2004 and my MIL has been here once and my FIL has never been here. They are seriously the most selfish people I have ever met - but I will still work my butt off on Saturday to clean this place and get their approval.

I am so glad that Lost is back. I had to leave Stitch and Bitch early to make sure I got home to watch it. I will not spoil it for anyone who has not seen it yet but I am loving the Mr. Eko story line. I also have major hots for the actor who plays Mr. Eko - but I will not even attempt to say his name.

In knitting news I am working on the December mid-month dishcloth KAL, my aunt's frog dishcloths (still) and I am trying to start the clapotis but it is not going very well. I need to have quiet while I get started on it. The Knitting Novices group shawl KAL starts later in the month so I will be doing that also. I will post some more pic of FOs this weekend if I can get the pictures taken. Off to sleep now - later.

100 Things

I hope I can get through this - here are 100 things about crazy knitting fool

1. My full name is Kristyn Jay
2. My parents gave me my middle name after my great-grandfather (on dad's side) and my mom's cousin Jennifer who everyone called Jay
3. My husband loves to tease me about my middle name
4. I don't hate the name anymore like I did as a kid
5. My dad's name is Larry
6. I love him but he drives me crazy sometimes
7. My mom's name was Judy
8. She died of cancer on February 12, 2002
9. I miss her more than I ever imagined I could
10. DH's name is Jerry
11. We met at a bar
12. My mom told me I would never find a good guy at a bar
13. She was wrong
14. We were married on November 8, 2003
15. We were married at the Alumni Chapel at Michigan State
16. I graduated from MSU in June of 2003
17. I started there in August 1994
18. I didn't attend the whole 9 years
19. I was kicked out because of my grades
20. I went back full time in August 2002
21. It's the best thing I have done
22. Except marry my hubby
23. I was born June 26, 1976
24. My mom wanted to name me Betsy Ross or Martha Washington because I was born so close to the bicentennial
25. I am grateful every day that my dad put his foot down
26. That means I will turn 30 this year
27. I am not happy about that
28. I have 2 older siblings
29. My sister is 11 years older and my brother is 8 years older
30. I was an oops
31. I was practically an only child
32. My sister went to college when I was 7 and my brother got married when I was 12
33. My brother was 20 and my SIL was 19 when they got married
34. They will be married 18 years in July
35. I wonder sometimes how my SIL has stayed married to him so long
36. I love my nieces to death
37. They are 12 and 6
38. They are complete opposites
39. My dad is engaged to my SIL's mom
40. I have a very hard time dealing with it
41. As crazy as it is I feel like he is cheating on my mom
42. I have been in therapy since last January to deal with my anger
43. I don't blow up as much as I used to
44. I grew up in Fowlerville, Michigan
45. It was a nice place to grow up
46. I could never live there again
47. The people there are way to closed minded for us
48. We are an interracial couple
49. It's amazing that we still get those looks in the year 2006
50. I don't care though
51. We live in Rochester, Michigan
52. We love it here
53. Of course we could never afford a house here
54. I'm not sure what we will do
55. I wanted to be a lawyer almost my entire life
56. I wonder sometimes if I should go to law school
57. Mostly I wonder when I am at work
58. I hate my job
59. My boss is a psycho
60. I am looking for a new one
61. I am a major sports nut
62. I have screamed at the tv during sporting events
63. My favorite sports are hockey and men's college basketball
64. I hate most women's sports
65. I think they are boring
66. I love the Olympics
67. The only women's sports I watch are Olympic sports
68. I love to read
69. I love mysteries and suspense novels
70. I wish I read more
71. I started to knit in April 2005
72. I was prompted by Amy and Sherry
73. I have never been very crafty
74. I was quickly addicted
75. I stay out of yarn stores
76. I can't afford to buy much yarn
77. I am hoping that I am not repeating myself on this thing
78. I am a homebody
79. I can stay in my apartment for 2 days and not think anything of it
80. Sometimes I wonder if that is a good thing
81. I love to sing
82. I am not very good
83. I really don't sing when others can hear me
84. That includes my hubby
85. I am fairly shy
86. This can come across as snobby or bitchy
87. I'm not sure how to change that
88. I usually lose interest in things easily
89. That probably why this thing was silent from July to December
90. That's also why I thought I would never get married
91. I can't wait to have kids
92. I am afraid of being a bad mother
93. I want to be a stay at home mom
94. I don't think that will happen
95. My hubby will have to take them to daycare
96. I'm sure that I would cry everyday if I had to do it
97. I tend to compare myself to other people
98. I need to stop doing that
99. I tend to have low self esteem
100. I am sure glad I got through this.

Finally - Pictures!!

So I was finally able to download pictures from my camera so here are some of my FOs.















So this is a simple garter stitch scarf I made for my oldest niece for Christmas. I made it from Red Heart Super Saver in Royal and Fun Fur in Sapphire




This is the simple garter stitch scarf I made for my youngest niece for Christmas. This is made out of Bernat Softee Chunky in color 39425 and Fun Fur in Soft Pink.



So this is the checkered dishcloth from the Dishcloth Boutique site. The yarn is Sugar n' Cream in Violet Veil. I wasn't thrilled with it but hey it's a dishcloth.




Here is another dishcloth from the Dishcloth Boutique. The pattern is called Chinese Waves and it is also done in the Violet Veil Sugar n' Cream yarn. I did this for an exchange on the Knitting Novices Yahoo group.



Here is my Booga Bag which still isn't felted yet. I really need to work on that. This was made in Noro Kureyon color 115

I can tell that I am going to hate using pictures on this thing. I have been working on this post for 2 hours. Of course I have also been flipping between the Wings game, the Spartan game and
Dancing with the Stars. I need to go now - I am catching my 3rd cold since September.

Happy New Year Folks!

I hope all have had a safe and happy New Year. On Saturday DH and I went to my father's house for dinner and then to my brother's for their annual party. We had a good time - played Taboo and Scene It which was fun. Yesterday we had our normal quiche brunch at my dad's and came home where we proceeded to do nothing. I loved it. I got the first day of the monthly dishcloth group KAL done and finished untangling and winding the yarn for my aunt's frog dishcloths.

I have never been one to make New Year's Resolutions but I like Laurie's idea of making lists. I love to make lists so this should be easy. So here we have Kristy's (aka crazy knitting fool) 2006 list of to-do's and to-do-not's.

Financial To-Do's:
Start putting some money into a savings account each month
Pay bills on time to avoid late fees
Pay extra toward credit card debt to get them paid off sooner
Cook dinner at home more

Work To-Do's:
Have a better attitude while at work
Stay ontop of things and let fewer things fall through the cracks
Go back to school and finish paralegal degree
Search for a new job

Personal To-Do's:
Learn to let anger towards my father go
Talk to doctor about trying to get pregnant at appointment next month
Be better at cleaning and organizing house
Do something nice for myself once a month (buy some yarn, a book, CD or DVD, etc)
Drink more water
Lose weight
Get a massage
Get new contacts
Take Jerry to The Lion King @ Warton

Knitting To-Do's:
Make clapotis
Improve this blog
Go to SnB more often
Learn how to make socks
Finish Jerry's hat
Make some beaded stitch markers
Finally felt the booga bag that has been off the needles since August

To-Do Not's:
Stop buying things out of the vending machine at work
Do not let other people's problems and attitudes affect me so much
Quit worrying about everything
Do not allow other people's ideas and values become mine
Quit comparing myself to other people
Drink less Coke

So that's all I can think of right now. I may add or remove things as I see fit. I hope to actually review these things peroidically and see how I am progressing. Have a great day all!