Doggie and actual knitting!

So the cats are still keeping watch over the new dog:


Especially Jack who doesn't quite trust her yet:


But she is being great and ignoring the taunting of my little kitty beasts. She should get along just fine at our place.

And some actual knitting content on my blog...

Finished a scarf which is a christmas present for my friend Sharon. I made up the pattern and it's knit in Rowan Plaid which is just awesome stuff. Someday I really want a big cozy sweater made from this yarn.


And the sweater that I started for my dad for Christmas (last year) is coming along nicely. It's Jessie's sweater from stitch n bitch nation. I have nearly finished both sleeves and hope to get started on the body this week. I'm using Schoeller Stahl Merino Stretch. Which I like, but at the same time it's very odd to knit with stretchy yarn. The resulting fabric is somewhat sweatshirt like. My dad should really love it. My dad was an auto mechanic for 30 years... he has a special place in his heart for flames (especially on cars from the 50's) so this sweater just screamed DAD when I saw the pattern.


And that's all for now. Have a great week everyone.

Here she is!

This is our new dog Shasta! She's a pit/boxer mix and is 5 years old. We got her from Smiley Dog Rescue. I'm on house duty this weekend (well me and the fiance are) to make sure the cats don't antagonize her. She has been in a foster home with cats and did well. But our youngest one has been trying to chase her out of the house.... so far everyone is getting along well enough. She loves belly rubs! And here are some photos of her "in" her bed :)

Merino!

The yummy merino that I ordered last month finally showed up. Word of advice... never use DHL for shipping. They are really bad. But here is the yarn.
For a sweater:


And several scarves:


I love the colors (even if a few of them don't match the online photos) but the burgundy/orange ones and green/gray ones have been so tangled that winding them into balls has really been painful. Hopefully the blue stuff is not that way as I have 10 of them.

And here's a great knitted toy booklet that I picked up:


And lastly... a cabled scarf that I made up the pattern for:

It's for a friend for christmas. The yarn is Rowan plaid and is just one of my favorites to knit with. So soft and springy. A great choice for cables.

And we're actually bringing our new dog home on Saturday. Her foster family has been keeping her for us till we could finish building a deck and put up cat fence (so everyone can go into the yarn without ending up in the street). I'm super excited!

Have a great Friday!

ADD Knitter

So I think I have ADD when it comes to knitting. Can't seem to stick to just a project or two.

My sesame sweater has a collar and half the buton band.... just needs the other band, sleeves sewn in, and buttons added. But the sleeves are knitted already:


Here's a seedstitch scarf I started a couple weekends ago because I needed something easy to work on while we had a garage sale. This is the handpaintedyarn.com super bulky. Love their colors:


And my second misty garden scarf (scarf style). Just felt like starting it :) It's close to half way done:


And a scarf using a pattern I found on craftster for my mom for christmas (she's one of the few I'm knitting for this year):


And one finished project that I have been wearing but forgot to photograph:

Yarn: Noro Transitions
Color: #6 pink/red/khaki/grey/green
Pattern: Last Minute Knitted Gifts Kid Rainbow Scarf
Needles: Lantern Moon Straights #10
Yarn Quantity: 2 full balls (260 yards total)

Well now I have to go to work. Have a great weekend.

Crash

So I got this in my email a couple days ago:

Dear client

Due to our large stock of pure merino wool, we get in touch with you to

invite you once again to buy our excellent quality merino wool with the

best price you can get.
Until the 30th of october you can get:

Hanpainted merino

9 skeins $83 (shipping included)
18 skeins $145 (shipping included)
36 skeins $260 (shipping included)

buy more wool from our ebay store at http://stores.ebay.com/handpainted-wool

And I just ordered a whole lot o yarn..... I'm bad. But so excited for it to show up :)

And a Swatch

This is Rowanspun DK in Gobblin and I am in love with the color. Just had to swatch it. I see a cabled pullover... as though I need another project going :)

Some finished and in progress photos

Bright Stripes
Yarn: Jo Shark Silkroad Ultra
Color: elm (olive), tamarind (burgandy), neptune (dark blue), salsa (orange), kliker (another dark blue)
Pattern: Modified from Bright Stripes in Scarf Style
Needles: Addi Circs #10.5
YarnQuantity: about 250 yards


Lace and Agate scarf
Yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Haze, Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud, Elsabeth Lavold Silky Wool
Color: marmalade, autumn, burnt orange
Pattern: Lace and Agate scarf
Needles: Brittney Straight #10.5
Yarn Quantity: about 180 yards of each


Bias stockinette stitch scarf (not done yet) in Angora/wool blend form Tess yarns. It's so cozy.


Arm from my sesame sweater. The whole body and both arms are done. Now I just have to sew it together and knit the button bands and collar.

Started a cardi in Rowan Polar using the irregular rib pattern from Loop D Loop and the Handy Book of sweater patterns for the actual sweater. The yarn is not as purple as it photographs... and is so nice and soft. Will make a great bulky cardigan.

Shasta

We're adopting Shasta!

So excited to get her. We've got to do some work to make our yard pet safe, so she's not coming home with us just yet... but we're shooting for thanksgiving. I haven't had a dog since I was a kid.

Woo Hoo!

And in some knitting news.... I really need to finish some projects. I've been in a starting projects mood rather than a finishing projects mood. But my Sesame sweater is really close to done. I'm using Cascade Eco wool in a cream and mid brown color. This yarn is great to work with. I'll try and get some photos up this week of a couple scarves I've finished recently.

Have agreat week

Yummy

Just got my Vogue Knitting in the mail tonight.  And I really like a few patterns and really don't like the rest.  But this is a must make.  I've got some Rowan Kidsilk Haze in my stash that needs to be this sweater:

Doggie update

We decided to get Shasta. She is really the best fit for us. Arnold (the boy) is a great boy and wins on the the sad story. But he's a bit more iffy on the cat front. Where Shasta was lying on the floor getting her belly rubbed as a kitty snuggled with her head. And she didn't react at all. She will just fit into our lives a lot better. So since Arnold is at the Berkeley Shelter that I just started volunteering at.. I will just have to help him find a great home.

So excited! I've wanted a dog for many years.

Oh and I sold the yarn from the post.

Doggies and Destash

So I've been on the hunt for a great dog for us (fiance and I). And I think we met her today. Her name is shasta and she's a 5 year old Pit Bull / Boxer mix. She is currently in a foster home near us and we went and played with her this afternoon. She is a really sweet girl who loves tummy rubs. In the house with her are another dog and 2 cats. One of the cat likes to snuggle on her head (we saw it happen) which is awesome because we have 3 cats and just can't have a dog that doesn't love cats. So we're working on getting our house set up so she can wander in and out through a dog door into the back yard.
There is only one problem. His name is Arnold and he is a 3 year old Pit at the Berkeley Animal Shelter who I met yesterday while volunteering there. The poor guy has been there for a year. And we took him outside in their play area and hung out and played with him. He's super sweet and sane for having been locked up for a year. He's a bit more playful than Shasta and they say he's good with cats but we'd have to really test that. I just want them both... such sweet dogs. It's just hard to decide if we want a really playful active guy or a super sweet mellow girl who is for sure really great with cats. If i just had a farm I'd take them all home with me.

And we're trying to declutter to make room for one of these cuties.... so I'm selling a little bit o yarn:

Skacel Sirenetta
Fibre Content: 60% Cotton/ 40% Acrylic
Made In: ItalyCare: Machine Wash/ Dry Flat
Gauge: 18 st/4 inches 4.0-5.0 mm (US 6-8)50g (1.75 oz) ball
Yardage: 111 m (121 yards)

I have 9 balls in stonewash grey (color 3)
and 3 balls in seashell pink (color 7)

So all 12 balls for $30 and I'll throw in free shipping. Leave me a comment if interested.



TTFN

So many babies

So I think every one of my friends is having a baby this year. I'm making another baby pullover from the Last Minute Knitted Gifts pattern:

They are not finding out if it's a girl or boy so I went with my favorite color of green. I hope they like it :)

And a Bubby Bear to go with it:



But after making a nose and eyes... it really looked like it needed a mouth (and scarf of course... I mean who isn't happier with a mouth and a scarf?!!??!?!)

And I also finished up a pair of cigar cloves for my fiance and a scarf. But have some ends to weave in before I get to the photos. I'll also post some pics from our trip to Yosemite last weekend. It was our anniversary so we each got Friday off work and spent 3 days there. Such a gorgeous place. My photos are all film so it'll be a while before any get posted :)

20 days!

I've gone 20 days without one single slip. (not even one ball of yarn bought)

Of course I still need to knit up my stash... but I'm working on it. I think I just finally got to the point where I really can't justify any more yarn... I really have a lot of beautiful yarn to get to :)

Have a great week

Finished a couple projects

Baby sweater for a friend who is due any minute.


Of course my guage was a bit off (my bad) so it'll fit the baby when he's about 1 and a half :)

And here is the scarf for my boyfriend for our anniversary:

It's really soft. I'm quite happy with how both of these turned out.

Puppy

I want to adopt this puppy!!! But working 50 hours a week plus a commute plus already having 3 cats means that I can't (even though they say he loves cats). Will someone please tke this cutie home?!?!?!?

I so want a dog :(

Stuffed Elephant

And ta da:


For my favorite little 1 year old Quinn. I am a little late for her birthday... but not toooooo late.

Hmmmm

My yahoo horoscope today:

The procrastination must end -- take a deep breath and finish what you started.

Well if I am to finish what I've started... I've got a lot of knitting to do :) I've started a lot!

Cracked

Ok I just bought yarn for a sweater and a scarf... but the place I bought it from is giving 100% of their profits to Katrina relief. And I have ordered from them in the past and loved them. So I will re-set my counter but not feel too bad about the fail in my yarn diet.

And to encourage others... here is the site

Little Knits

They are also having great sales at the moment...

And I got Cascade Pastaza in multiple colors to make a striped cardi. And some noro transitions in color #6 for a scarf. Ok back on the wagon for me.

My Fun with Google

I'm copying this idea from LisaB. Go to google, click on images and then search for these things from your life:

My First Car (funny LisaB and I had the same car):
Blue 1984 Volvo Station Wagon.

I got it in High School when I was a sophmore. And it fit so many people. It's actually still around in my family. My brother was driving it for awhile as his car had some major mechanical issues. But it was recently sold to someone else for a whopping $500. I drove it from 1994-2001. Then got a honda civic because I commute and the civics 35 mpg beat out the 18 the volvo got. But it was an awesome car :)


Place you grew up and place you live now:
Grew up in San Rafael California

This is actually an image of the San Rafael Civic Center. Frank Loyd Wright designed the building and it was the setting in the movie Gattica. This is also where I used to go to the library as a kid and where they had a farmers market in the summer.





Now live in Berkeley California
This is a photo of the Kite Festival they have in Berkeley once a year. It's always kinda fun. I've gone a couple times.








What shows up when you type your name in and your blog name:
Amber:

Shocker. I so have a Porn name :)










Or I get this kind of amber:
















Yarn Junkie:

Favorite Food:
Olives!














Favorite Drink:
Mojito















Favorite Song:
Interpol Obstacle 1

Interpol is a great band. This song is from their "Turn On the Bright Lights" Album. But "Antics is a great album as well. They have a haunted quality to their music.















Favorite Smell:
Just after it Rains
























And I also just love the rain.

Favorite Pair of Shoes Ever:
Well maybe not EVER... but currently these are my 2 favorite pair of shoes. Adn I cheated and went to zappos.com for the pics.


That was fun :)

Help

Just wanted to post a note expressing my sadness for everyone effected by the hurricane and the flooding. Especially the people still stuck in New Orleans. And remind everyone who can to donate time or money or both to the people who have lost everything. This is the the link google has up for donation collection. But I don't really care who you donate through... just go help as much as you can.


Red Cross
And a list of places to donate to including some to help the animals too.

-Amber