Summer Cleaning

Everyone in the GrimmWitch clan is getting ready for L. Mom has been cleaning out the attic and found some pretty interesting stuff. She has a lot of pics on her blog along with a new belly pic of me.

First pic...some Ewoks ca 1983.
These poor guys were in good condition but smell so bad from a poor storage environment in the attic. I'm going to try to clean them up.

Poor Rainbow Brite! She just looked terrible and smelled not so fresh:( We chucked her:..(
I used to have a big one too, Mom just found her in great condition.

These wall hangings are I believe faux retro, but a bit too not me, and I assume, not L.

I loved these guys when I was young. I know the albums are around somewhere.

Knitwise, I frogged the Kanoko pants as I said last post. I started again in Bobcat by Wool in the Woods. This is a CTH colorway, wild cherry. This is the same yarn Id been using for my mother in law's shawl, also mentioned in my last post.

Here is the pretty much finished Baby Surprise in chunky Zauberball. I need help with button selection.

Lots'a Yarn

Last weekend Mom and I stopped at Yarn Diva in Hillsdale while out. She wound up buying me a Knit Kit. I think Pat said someone had asked her if it was a birth control kit.:)

Pat got her one and she was looking to spread the addiction. As she said on her blog, Mom added a needle to the kit. I'll be doing that too. Above the Knit is pictures from the front with some really vibrant Jitterbug yarn that I picked up at Yarn Diva. Below I'm posting a shot of the back of the Knit with some Aussi sock. That is the same yarn (different colorway) as the yarn I used for the Mary Thank You Socks.

I still have the Lapis Hederas on the needles here next to me. I'm thinking I may give those to Mary as well.

I've made a lot of progress on the BSJ for Mrs. B's new grandbaby.

I think I'm going to make something for the big brother of the new baby, Alex, but I'd want it to be crochet. I've been missing crochet so much. I also sleep with a crochet blanket every night and it's just as snuggly as any knitting! So I'm considering making this Spiderman blanket (Ravelry Link). I'd make one for Griff too, and I'd hope to make one for my other co-worker's son. We will see...that is a buttload of blanket!

Still working on my Clapotis.

It's taking much longer than I'd thought, but then again it is sockish yarn. And it does feel really nice. It's for me, so I'm in no rush.

I've done NOTHING to get ready for school. A little web design on my class site, but it sux so I'll need to re do it. The company that we teachers have our sites through makes good design difficult. Tomorrow (gulp) I'm planning to go in.

Mom, Pepper, and I were supposed to see Julie and Julia today but Pep got sick. Mom and I hadn't been to Stix-n-Stitches in a gillion years so we drove up to Montclair. I miss going there b/c the staff is great. They are so helpful and make everyone feel at home. They truly are a bunch of wonderful broads.

So I'd seen online that another store that had once been in Montclair had relocated. Mom and I decided to drive by and found that they'd moved down the block from Stix. I found this very puzzling. I wish them the best with their venture, and I know Stix will support a fellow yarn store in any appropriate way, but why would you open up a store down the block from another that sells the exact same merch? I also doesn't feel the same as Stix. If I need Rowan and don't want to drive into Hoboken to Patricia's I guess I'd go there, but otherwise I don't think I will. And I think I'd feel totally uncomfortable asking for help there.

While at Stix I finally got to spend the rest of my gift cert from Mom and Dad from December...yes, December! I was really looking for Flat Feet but I couldn't find any. Here's the loot I did get...

Although I love blues I'd never purchased an all blue sock yarn so there it is and it feels great.

I saw that they had all this Araucania Patagonia on sale so I went nuts with that.

I really love this yarn. A few years back I made one of my first sweaters out of it. I don't think I ever posted the final result...I know it's not on my Ravelry, so here's that...

I made it with a huge hood modeled after my favorite sweater ever, some cheep, fuzzy, black cardigan I got for $5 or so at some discount store when I was in college. Both the Patagonia one and the original are very warm, only good for late fall or winter. I knitted on a smaller needle with the cotton to make it heavy and very insulating. I wear it and the original one every day under my coat in the winter.

While at Stix I picked up some yarn to make a fair isle hat with Mom from Brooklyn Tweed's new book (Mom's a Jared Flood fan). Here's the Ravelry link.

The yarn is Fresco from Classic Elite. I eliminated the white from the pattern and changed it to black (I do white as little as humanly possible; my day glow 'how is she a Latin lady' skin it pale enough for any outfit I may wear). There's a pic from Ravelry of the finished fair isle along with a pic of the crochet hat I'm working on now, Raspberry Beret, from the most recent Crochet Today magazine.

Here's what my Raspberry Beret (love that name:) looks like so far...

A bit blurry, but you can see mine it far more grapie. I was originally working on it in Berroco Ultra Alpaca and just b/c I tend to crochet and knit like I'm strangling someone I didn't like the way it was coming out. This is Cascade 220, and the feel is much softer and is better for the pattern.

I did get one more thing at Stix. I saw this woman lugging tons of bags into the store. I didn't know why she was there, but I felt bad she had to do all that on her own. I wish my knee wasn't so screwed up 'cause I would have preferred to help her bring the bags down the steps into Stix, but the least I could do and did was to hold the door so she could just breeze in once she got her shit down stairs. When she was finally done Mom joked that she now needs to pay me in yarn b/c I was such and excellent door lady. She then proceeded to ask me if I like cool or warm colors and handed me a kid socks size piece of Flat Feet.

Turns out she was a yarn company rep and was there to show Sheila (Stix owner) new Fiesta and Flat Feet (really stunning new Fiesta!). I don't ever do shit expecting things back or b/c I'm thinking of the 3 fold law, although I do believe doing good always brings you good in return simply by just feeling good. I just do whatever little shit I do for others b/c that's what every one should do. And really, holding the door? That's just a little bullshit thing. That was really nice that she gave me yarn and I was touched.

In non knitting news...I'm silly often and one silly thing I do every year is watch the tv show Big Brother. This season I've chosen to cheer for Kevin Campell to win.

He was smart to lay low most of the game and although I guess his house mates would disagree he was as loyal as he could be to his allies while still taking part in the game play and not forgetting that he's playing for money. I think this loyalty mixed with reasonable self preservation will come to be the argument for him to win a freakin buttload of cash if he makes it to the end. Go Kevin!!

And don't forget...PROJECT RUNWAY IS BACK!!!!!! More on that next post.

Taking a Break from my Knitting with...more Knitting

I have been working on the Baby Surprise for Mrs. B's grandbaby. I got the invite for the party but sadly it's on my birthday so I won't be staying for the whole thing.

It's a second kid for the parents, so Mrs. B was asking us in school in June if we thought it was appropriate to have a smaller party. I think that whenever anyone has any sort of excuse to have a party one should do so; maybe a smaller party is called for or asking for donations instead of gifts is an option. I also feel that whenever a child of the opposite gender enters a family (the 1st child a boy, the 2nd a girl, or the 1st two boys, the 3rd a girl,m visa versa and etc) you're pretty much starting from scratch in many areas so a typical baby shower is fine. Mrs. B is just a very considerate person. She never wants to offend people.

So here is a pic of the newest portions of the sweater, now with lavender stripes introduced.

I took a break from sox and the Clapotis to make a hat. Mom (Lupie) had picked out a pattern she wanted to make and I wanted to work along with her, but I was eyeing another pattern from tentenknits.

I worked on it one afternoon at Mom's house and two nights in a row when I was trying to get to sleep and finished quickly. I tried my best with the floats but know that tension will get better with practice.

Tomorrow I'm going knitting with the ChalkDust Knitters for the first time in months. I'm very excited b/c I know Karen will have the latest news from school (she is an administrative assistant in another grammar school in my district). I don't know if I mentioned it yet, but apparently my school has been closed down due to asbestos. Gee whizz, I wonder if all the cave-ins, cracks, and ceiling nipples with dripping asbestos water could have put any of my kids in danger!?!?

Warning...Crazy Teacher Rant...

I really want to know what's going on b/c I had big plans to completely re-do my classroom so that it would be more organized, easier to run, and therefore a less stressful place to be. But who knows what will happen now, and who knows whether or not all the dangerous crap will really be cleared away. I bet any amount of money it won't.

People wanna know why my little dudes can't score as high as other districts (even though we score high compared to other urban districts like our own). It's because my funny, smart, beautiful, clever, awesome, caring, inspirational, terrific students (they are really too wonderful for words) are going to school in a century old building that was permitted to slowly desintigrate. They look at drab beige and brown walls and floors every day, my posters and decorations stretching to cover up the veins of water damage and dusty cracks that have been unrepared for years.

Then people try to blame the custodians. I imagine keeping my school clean must be something like trying to dust and restore an Egyptian pyramid after someone plays paintball inside.

Teacher Rant Over

I went out recently with two women I went to high school with. It's weird to call them women:) I still feel 18 sometimes. I think if someone had asked me which one of us I thought would be married and in a stable teaching possition ten years later I would have been my last guess. I tell my students all the time that sometimes life takes you to the complete opposite of where you thought you'd be. And in my case it ended up to be the best thing as I sit here typing next to the man I never thought I'd want to meet, in the home I never imagined I'd own.

And in music news I stumbled across the two year old album of the band She Want Revenge and really liked it. So one may want to check it out...it sits just perfect between Joy Division and The Cars in my iPod, but I wouldn't say it's exactly like either.

And the Countdown Begins...the Great GrimmWitch Relocate

Thank the Gods my college course is over. I was never able to find enough time for it. For whatever reason perhaps b/c of my rockin' SmartBoard, work I do at home for my job has increased and I find myself working at least two or three hours on work work after I get home at around 4:30. The move is slowly creeping forward and We need to start packing.

In between that I still have a huge amount of pressure at work. It doesn't feel like home away from home anymore. Every day I'm waiting for something else to go wrong.
I'm also trying to take the next few steps in my quest to be a mom. I suppose I should have listed that first in my non knitting pursuits, but sometimes my priorities get all jumbled.

So, cute things 1st. Smudge has made a wonderful recovery from the head tilt he had over the summer. We thought we'd loose him, and we hoped at the most that he'd live on unhindered by a permanent tilt, but he is my little hero and looks exactly just as healthy as he did before he was ill.
I didn't want to remember it so I didn't take pictures of his illness, but by the point the below was taken I was elated that he was alive and kickin' and thought this was going to be it for him so I snapped this shot.Well, since then he's improved greatly and is up to no good again. He discovered the moving boxes.
As previously promised I have some pics from Mr. G and my little trip to Phili for Eastern State Penitentiary's Terror Behind the Walls, a remarkable haunted house set up in the historical prison. Mr. G has yet to send me the few pics he took w/ his phone at the pen, but the next day we went to the Camden Aquarium (nice, but worth $45 some odd dollars per person?).

Many exhibits featured pumpkins for seasonal look.

Me looking at jaws from the extinct Megalodon.

View of hippo from the underwater area of their tank - this made it worth the money - they are extraordinary!

And the weekend's booty pictured next to my well loved copy of Watchmen. Can't wait for the flick. Mr. G bought me this Teddy Scares at the prison and he comes with a ball and chain...
And at back tat!
Now for knitting...
I finished Griffin's tomten a while back and added monkey buttons, but don't have a pic yet. Finished the ripple blanket as well...pics to come. Its being washed as I type.

I knitting a baby surprise for a co-worker's brand new granddaughter, Sophia, out of CottonTots from Bernet. I love that stuff.

The buttons are butterflies.


In celebration of this festive Yule season I made my sister, a long time Impressionist fan, a pair of socks out of Rio de la Plata merino in the colorway Starry Night purchased from Yarnmarket.




I made a scarf for a student of mine that gifted me with some yarn. She crochets and I knew she would appreciate this and wanted to thank her for her gift.

In addition to finishing my tomten for Griffin's cousin, another adorable Sophia, I'm working on Jaywalkers for mom, and a top down cardigan out of Zebra Caribe.

And another Baby Surprise for another pregnant co-worker.

I just love this pattern. I love that I don't have to seam too much b/c I feel that's my weakness. I think it's a warm, practical jacket that can be made to look so different every time by simply changing the colors and the way in which they are used.

Just as the vacation rolls downhill to a too quick end the ChalkDust Knitters met up for a great meet at Pat's house. It was just so nice, her place is beautiful, and I enjoy our time together more than I ever thought I could. Pat gave me a great book on beading (very comprehensive...Thanks Pat!!) Those of us who were not able to make it were enormously missed.

Pic Pilfered from Knitting with my Mother's Hands (aka - my mom's site)

And now for something completely different!

Happy New Year!!!

Ann Hood rocked Stix-n-Stitches and Pepper, Zel, and Mom bake some yarn cakes

The Chalkdust knitters had a blast last night when Ann Hood visited Stix-n-Stitches. We ate out at a near by italian place - the name escapes me - but it's up the block from SnS and the food was fabulous! We talked shop as we chowed down, and had these freshly baked scrumptious deserts. I will check out the name next time I'm up there.

Once we were done we went back to the store and were knitting when a blond with a funky leopard print winter coat blew in to the shop. Ann was humble and down to earth, chatting with people in the store before finally taking her spot in the center of the room to speak to us. If anyone reading this has the opportunity to hear Ann speak, get your tush there and make sure you stuff four pounds of Kleenex in your pockets before leaving the house. She was just as moving as she was hysterical.

While there I picked up some more of the same Filatura Di Crosa Baby Zarella I made the Vibrant Tomten from -still not done, but almost- and started this blanket. The pattern's from Stick-Legged Girl. She made it out of Cotton Ease, but I'm trying it with what I've got.



Last night while at Stix-n-Stitches we bought some ball winding parafenalia and spent the morning winding cakes of yarn. Even Maggie joined in to leand a helping paw.


I've ripped out the Cable Tomten several times, but hopefully this will be the incarnation I'll stick with. My friend's baby is not due until the summer, at this rate maybe I'll be done by the time the kid's in high school:)



PS
A pic of Mom's Bobble Sweater

Updates to Come

Monica of Stix-n-Stitches encouraged me to join their Ravelry group. I did so, and it kinda made me sort of interested in updating this site.

Ever since school started I've been spending most of my time away from the net. I took my first Library Science class (yes, I want to be a knitting librarian - but please banish all stereotypes from your mind). The class was stressful and confusing, but it seems that may have been more the professor and less the subject, so I've registered for two more this spring. The more I look into it the more I realize that's really what I want to do with my life.

I have been knitting, but haven't taken any pics. I will, though. I finished the sweater with the patagonia. I also began a black sweater for myself out of Cotton Ease, tore it out, and am going to make a baby sweater with the yarn. I started a shawl for my mother with some Wool in the Woods (it's listed as a Cherry Tree Hill yarn at BarganYARNS.com but I heard CTH bought Wool in the Woods anyway). I'm waiting for the rest of my yarn and then I'll finish that up.

I used some lace weight Online mohair yarn I found in the discount pile at Stix-n-Stitches to start a really easy, lovely shawl from elann.comfor my mother in law, but am going to rip that up and make something for myself. She's been behaving like a lunatic and has ripped my heart out and pounced on it about ten times since the start of the school year. She's not at all elderly (only 67) but her lifestyle has aged her beyond her years. She calls constantly, mostly after 9 at night, when all good little teachers are in bed, and has been very manipulative and hurtful. The whole thing has been very stressful for my husband and myself.

Right now I'm also working on an EZ Tomten. My husband and I are planning to have a little one soon, so I figure I need to get rolling.

Pics to come.

My mother, sister, Pepper, and I were driving home from lunch out with friends when Pepper spotted a yarn store on the way home. A yarn store in northeastern NJ that we don't know about??? It can't be!! But it was. I'd be supplying you with the link, but there is none.

After a quick pit stop, mom and I went to Expressions Yarn Studio in Englewood, New Jersey. The small store front was decorated with plants, lined with shelves of yarn, and everything stood surrounding a homey knitting table complete with two customers hard at work.

All the yarn is hand dyed and appeared to be hand spun, although we're not sure. The dye jobs alone were entrancing. I was spellbound and suggested she make a web site for herself. The salt and pepper haired store owner and yarn artist was a bit shy about it, said she wouldn't know how, and I volunteered my services (not that I'm that good at it either, but I can get the job done.)

One of the two other customers said she thought a web site was unnessesary and would cheepen the shop owners work and yarn. Ehhh. I didn't get into it, but an artists web site doesn't just have to be about selling stuff. She can keep her minions informed (I say minions and not patrons purposely), attract new business to the store itself, and keep track of everything she's made, etc.

It seems she's very possesive of her yarn. Rather than allowing customers to come and go and pick and choose, she likes to have a heavy hand in any project that involves her yarn, and wants you to march along behind her.

Mom and I warmed up to a few skeins and asked her about them. She said she handles all business in one of two ways. You have an idea, she picks the yarn, or you like some yarn, she dreams up an idea. SHe said the way she likes to do it is to plan for you and lead you through your knitting. The rebel in me was immediately turned off by the thought of someone else telling me what to knit and how. I'd been looking at her pre made stuff - her designes, and while very beautiful, they were simple rectangular designs, kinda like the stuff I can do all by my lonesome. They're pieces to showcase the fabulous yarn.

When she gave us an estimate for the three skeins of gorgious turquoise cotton boucle we'd drooled over I nearly pissed myself. It was the most expensive yarn my newbie hands had ever caressed. I love Michaels', but I've been to Majestic Yarns in Ridgewood owned by the queen of Karabella, author of Runway Knits, Berta Karapetyan. (I have my autographed copy, do you??:)




Her yarn is stunning, but pricy - this Expressions stuff was on another planet. And then she insists that she wants to basically control what I'm going to knit with it a jillion dollars later, I think not.

If you love yarn, and are stomping through the northern region of the Garden State, stop by Expressions Yarn. Just know you'll either leave empty handed, or empty walleted.

Summer Fades

I spent Friday and Monday in Pepper's classroom. The building is only a few years old, but it was kinda dirty. Monday was the 3rd day we'd been in there. Before Pepper and I were teaching, when it was only Mom's classroom that had to be set up, we used to knock it off in one long day.
Mom did her classroom on Monday as well, while Pepper and I were in the art room...

Let me summarize the situation so it's more clear. Mom and Pepper teach in the same building, I teach in another; we're all in the same town.

So mine still has to be done. I spend most of my day walking through the room, on the floor with the kids, or standing at an overhead (the best way to lecture...in color!) so I need to set up the classroom in a way conducive to that. I have a wall full of bulletin board and another full of blackboard. I wish I could switch them...and think I have an idea. I ordered this...

A roll of chalkboard made by the company that makes clear contact paper. Cross your fingers.

On the knitting front, I've gotten further with that cable thing...

This is the first time I suppose I'm doing intarsia. I'm working the sleeves flat and working the cable in the middle in dark brown all the way. I've run out of yarn, so I'm off to get some more.

I'm going to start a February sweater from EZ's Knitters Almanac with some of the yarn Mom brought back from Connecticut. I'm also trying to plan out a kimono sleeve tunic with this Blue Heron yarn