splityarn

only the nametag is missing

Fall has finally hit Austin. For those of you that haven't been here before, Fall in Austin means temps of 15 C (low 60s) in the mornings warming up to the 20s (low 70s) midday. You really only need a sweater in the morning although Austinites dig out fleece pullovers and mittens and talk about how El Nino this year is going to make it a really cold winter. I love it. I almost skipped to the bus stop yesterday morning when I realized I would be able to start wearing my favourite sweater.

There's a dude at work who keeps telling me that the winter wind in Austin is the coldest in all the land. I told him that until he's stood at the top of a mountain at minus 18 C with the wind blowing 60km/h while it snows sideways, he has NO IDEA what cold is. He continues to insist that the Austin wind is the coldest. As far as I'm concerned, he can think that for as long as he likes, because now is the season that I can begin to wear my winter uniform.

At our knitting meetup a few weeks ago, there was some laughter that we'd all turned up in the same general outfit. Cute sneakers with no socks, jeans and a black tshirt. I don't know about you, but that's my Saturday uniform. It's comfy, it's casual and it's perfect for knitting in a coffee shop. My winter uniform is not much different. It's the same basic outfit but I add a black sweater and a scarf. Because it's only been cool enough for a sweater for one day, I haven't got any recent pictures of the uniform but I dug through my archives and discovered (with some surprise) that this has apparently been my uniform for some time. This is the finished object shot of Wavy that I knit in December 2004 where I'm wearing the black sweater. Worse than that, I found a picture of the same sweater with a scarf from a visit to Boston in December of 2003. At least the scarf is different. Gah!

I'm excited about the change in the weather but I'm horrified that I might have to get a new uniform. How many years is too many for a $15 sweater from (Canadians please begin to roll your eyes) Suzy Shier paired with a handknit scarf?

we are wee! and orange!

I'm not going to downplay the good times on Saturday morning, much much fun was had. We got to have beer before breakfast and when that happens, fun! Plenty of folks came out. From as far as Dallas to as close as, well...South Austin. (Some of us don't live that far from the bar) Meg, Kristin, Julia, Amy, Ellie, Angie, Nanc, Chris...there were others, but I haven't found my notes. *cough*beerbeforebreakfast*cough* We took pictures of each other taking pictures of each other, shared manybeers, gossiped, lunched and engaged in all kinds of shenanigans. (I still have lavender in my purse!)

There was one distraction for me that morning. Technically two. Of all days, we chose animal rescue benefit day to share with knitting blogger meetup day and I came thisclose to going home with two of the cutest kittens. We already have two cats in our house, not to mention that after a year and a half they still hate each other, and I was seriously tempted to bring these liddl'uns in as ambassadors. Enablers that my knitting pals are, they even fed me lines of what I could say to the Husband if I arrived home with a basket of wee orange kitties. "It'll be easy Caro, just tell him you found them under the car in the parking lot. Who could leave kitties under a CAR? They're so small and tiny and cute! It would be heartless to leave them behind."
This plan made so much sense to me that I had to phone home and own up to the untold lie. It was HARD. Do you see the cute? I left them behind, but I've been thinking about them ever since.

I will not bring two new kitties home.
I will not bring two new kitties home.
I will not bring two new kitties home.
I will not bring two new kitties home.
I will not bring two new kitties home.

There had better not be kittens at Kid N Ewe!

texas round up

One of my favourite things to do is to get together with other knitters and knit.  I love that the chatter will go from different increase methods to Project Runway to Jake Gyllenhaal and back. In fact, I've had a conversation with Meg (pictured at left) that went almost exactly like that. (You MUST read her JG story. Wow, awesome.)

This Saturday, October 14th,  we're putting together a big crew to sit on a patio and knit. Adult beverages and an Austin patio, sounds like fun, right? Come play with us at Opal Divine's South! We'll be there from 11 AM enjoying a few (or many) adult beverages, some lunch and ideally weather cool enough to wear handknits. Grab your pointy sticks and spend a Saturday afternoon with us! Come on out even if it's raining; Opals has enough room inside and they've always been friendly to us knitters. 

that girl with the headphones is laughing again

Way back in May I first mentioned that I'd become addicted to the crafty/knitty podcasts. And I'm still addicted. The commuter listening list over there in the side bar has my faves, but sometimes you have to sing out the love and not just relegate it to a quiet link. Currently there are two podcasts for which I will forsake all others. These are podcasts that will cause me to forget to put the milk in my coffee in my morning haste to get out the door and thus begin the listening faster.

The first one is the ever-delightful Pointy Sticks. I had the occasion to meet Christine twice this summer and I'm looking forward to the next time just as eagerly (if you're in Texas you should come with!) She's a bundle of energy and I have to confess, I think I have a wee bit of a girl crush. Part of it might be because she pimps my etsy stuff and asks nothing in return, but really, it's because she's a ton of fun to be around. She's an amazing photographer too (here's my chance to pimp her etsy shop) as evidenced by the fact that she took this fabulous picture of us in one take. I'm also amazed that she managed to get me looking cute without the double chin that normally accompanies all my pictures.

The second podcast is Lime and Violet. If you haven't listened to it yet, you're missing out. Seriously*. This is the podcast that makes me snort out loud laughing on the bus every single episode. They are to knitting podcasts what the Yarn Harlot is to knitting blogs. Fantastic stuff.

Any others that I should be listening to?

(*LnV listeners now have to drink)

pardon me while I indulge

My dad was our official family photographer. He had a great eye and an innate sense of composition. He took photos that family and friends treasure as heirlooms. He loved to take pictures and had his camera everywhere he went. So, there aren't many photos of Dad The Photographer. He was always behind the camera, never in front, but there is plenty of evidence of his craft. I've found there's a parallel between my dad and his photography and me and my knitting. Everyone sees me knit, there's a lovely product at the end, but the execution is not as well documented.

When bloggers go on a trip together, there are plenty of photos to be taken. That's why I'm so thankful for Jennifer and Marisa and all the pictures they took of me knitting and sewing while we were in California. It's something I'm not able to do on my own (I'm uncomfortable with my self-portraits,) but they're pictures I would never have otherwise. Thanks ladies, I'm overjoyed with the moments in time you've caught.

(and don't you LOVE how grouchy that woman in the airport picture looks?)

GTD eye candy

Due to some procrastination (apparently a recurring theme with me - I'm working on it) and a stomach bug a few weeks ago I'm not where I'd like to be as far as prep for Uncommon Threads. So while I'm out getting a haircut and colour, a manicure, my eyebrows threaded and trying to come up with five or nine outfits for the producers to pick from, here's a few photos for Eye Candy Friday until I get back next week. I'm going to take my ancient laptop in an effort to write on the road, but I won't promise that it will work. It might have to wait til I'm back in Austin next weekend.

Wish me luck! (I guess technically it should be, "Wish me a broken leg!")

lookit Pa! I'm'onna be on tha Tee Vee

Orangina is off the needles (!) and most of my current sewing WIPs are incredibly close to the finish line. I'm hoping to complete as many as I can this week because my time will not be my own over the next month. As soon as my recently ordered fabric arrives at the house I'll be preparing 3 sewing projects for...(drumroll please)...the taping of three episodes of Uncommon Threads for the DIY network!

I'd love to pretend to be all cool about it, but truthfully I'm super psyched. Textile Fetish Jennifer, our pal Marisa and I are flying to Los Angeles in early August for the show. Our episodes are part of season 2 and won't air for a while yet, but meanwhile I'll be DVR'ing season 1 to see what I'm in for.

Now if I can only wrangle that book deal…

I can't even sit sideways

When I first started commuting I thought that I'd be able to knit on the bus. It takes about 35 minutes to get to the office from home, so there's plenty of time.  My bus route isn't very popular so there's plenty of room.  My only problem? At 34 years old, I still get carsick. My whole life I've never been able to read or do anything other than look out the front window when a vehicle is in motion. When I was little my mum used to live with a plastic bag in her purse "just in case" little Carolyn turned green. I don't need the barf bag anymore, but I still get queasy. Not ideal conditions for knitting.

What to do on the bus instead? Knitting and crafty podcasts. I thought I'd spend my time listening to music, but I find myself going back to the craft content every morning.

This week:

Cast On. I admit that I usually fast forward through the music, but I love Today's Sweater.

Alex Anderson's Quilt Connection. This one surprised me. Sure she's super perky and wee bit corny but I've found myself giggling and smiling through it. The episodes are short (around 15-20 minutes each) and seemingly more fitting for someone my mum's age, but there's a lot of great information about needles, batting and techniques.

Craft Sanity. Ok - I've only listened to the first two, but this is a keeper. Amazing content and length. I'm hooked.

I'm not getting in much knitting time on the commute, but that's what breaks and lunchtimes are for right?  A few more days and I should have the second of these long forgotten "hooray for me" gloves finished up.

And come on, I know I'm not the only one with knitting in my office desk drawer.

Ms. Pink

It's not like I ever need an excuse to go to the yarn store, but when a fellow knit blogger is in town, how can I resist?

I had the pleasure of meeting up with Cathi and her husband at Hill Country Weavers yesterday morning. While the two of us wandered around fondling yarn and flipping through pattern books, Mr. Pink sat on the Husband Bench, played sudoku and waited patiently. We walked down the street to lunch and while Cathi and I gossiped and discussed who has the newest book deal, Mr. Pink patiently waited. We chatted about Denver and Austin, light rail, coffee shops and IKEA and eventually kept bringing it all back to knitting...and still Mr. Pink was patient. And really, isn't that what knitting teaches? Patience.

Thanks for all the goodies and the laughs you two! (Cathi brought the gift of yarn) Next time we'll make sure there's a few margs to go with.

product placement

A few months ago the husband and I treated ourselves to a bag of Kettle Chips that we found at World Market. We're not big potato chip eaters, but the Spicy Thai flavour sounded interesting. Turns out we were right. Deeeeee-lish! After that first bag we actively sought them out everywhere. The problem though is that this flavour can be tricky to track down (not to mention pricey.) We would pop into World Market on Fridays  (the delivery truck comes in on Thursdays), we made a formal request through Randalls (that can take months) and we looked for them everywhere they sold Kettle Chips. Finally the Husband proved why he is the brains in our house and ordered a case direct from the source.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some chips to eat.

the jet set

It's always so hard to update after more than a week off. After 5 days in Vancouver followed by Mum's visit in Texas, I think the best way to do this will be in pictures and with a big fat list.

the Vancouver whirlwind weekend highlights:

• cherry blossoms
• family visits
• super boozy shindigs with pals
• ocean views
• a Canucks hockey game (live even!)
• manybeers
• knitting with Li and Nadia
• many, many, manybeers

Mum's Texas visit:

• stash enhancement (with a matching hat) and knitting aplenty
• a spin through the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
• touring the Capitol (complete with immigration protests)
• coming home to find everything blooming around the house

530 km in Texas

Why do I always forget when it's spring break? I have no business being around cranky teenagers when I'm trying to get some shopping done. All I want to do is yell, "You...kid there! Pick up your feet. Quit shuffling. Stop pretending that you might die if you're seen with your parents."

The IKEA trip (other than the disgruntled youth) was successful though. Fortified by meatballs and ligonberry juice I managed to find most of the items on my list and remember to take some photos along the way. The bluebonnets in Texas are starting to bloom along the highway, which will be perfect timing for Mum's visit at the end of the month. (It's her birthday today - we're March babies.) The best part though? The giant golf ball-like planter pots that I lusted over last year are back. Sweeeeeeeet!

the Ides of March

Know what today is?

My birthday!

Normally I start chatting up my birthday weeks months in advance. The husband isn't as keen on that as I am, so I've been rillyrillyrilly good about it this year. I didn't say word one about it until I was handed a birthday card on Sunday at brunch. Now it's all out in the open and that means it's officially the start of birthday week around here.

I'm celebrating by loading up my wee green ipod mini with a whack of (link warning - there's tunes) CBC Radio3 podcasts and hitting the road bound for the Houston IKEA to buy drawer pulls and utensil organizers.  I must be getting old, 'cause a 3 hour drive and buying home improvement stuff has a lot of appeal.

DNF

I officially didn't make it to the finish line on any of my Olympic Knitting projects. Team Kitchen however made a great showing and in a typical Canadian fashion came in fourth. I'm adding a few points to the score for good sportsmanship too ('cause we're good like that.)

I finished the base cabinets Saturday afternoon but with work shifts and the flu to contend with I haven't managed the countertops yet. The week is still young though and I'm making good headway. We've officially set a drop dead day of March 5th for completion which will keep us under two months from tear-out to usability. For those keeping score, that's twice the amount of time I thought it would take, even factoring in a decent time cushion for errors. Two months washing dishes in the bathtub is a looooooong time, people. Trust me.

6:48 am and 12:48 pm

Ever wonder how sunrise looks over a Texas big box parking lot? Me neither, but now you know.

I didn't want to be that early-for-work girl standing outside the front doors waiting for the Important Person with the Key to let me in, so I took a couple pics from my car while I knit and waited. The first few days at work my hands were so sore from moving boxes and freight around (the store isn't open yet) that I couldn't knit on my breaks at all. By the time I'd get home I know I was so exhausted that I couldn't knit in the evening either. The horror! Thankfully I've recovered and now I can spend my lunch making progress on the second jaywalker sock and after tomorrow I'll start working on my olympic project.

Go Team Canada and go Team Kitchen! (That's me...and anybody else who's trying to reno the kitchen AND knit in the olympics)

Ever wonder what lunchtime looks like from the back of my car in a Texas big box parking lot? Heh. Now you know that too.