Make Me

Stitches West!

I'm so excited! Going to Stitches West! First time, and I've been selling everything but my soul on eBay to earn spending money. That's why I haven't had the time to write. It's chaos around Casa Make Me, but I've got myself a nice little yarn budget.  If I keep the selling momentum up, next thing down the pike is a MacBook.

I'm driving up and plan to make several stops along the way and back. If I have time, I want to head into San Francisco and have a meal at Chez Panisse. Seems like one of those things you should do. 

The Olympics has been keeping me busy too. I've started the Union Square Market Pullover for my Knitting Olympics project. The gauge has gone all wonky on me, but I think I will undo the bottom and fix it when I've done.  At least that way I can tailor it when it's on me. It's kind of a meh-knit with all that stockinette, but the end result is so lovely, I think I can keep with it.

Eyes in Little Italy - San Diego

Eyes in Little Italy - San Diego
Originally uploaded by Hilari

A couple of weeks ago we went to the Little Italy Festa. More than anything else I really love the chalk art.

I hadn't been in a few years, mostly because I mix this event up with the Art Walk that takes place in April. It does have "art"in the title, so I think it's quite easy to think there would be chalk there.

Anyway, it was really hard to get good photos. The art pieces were all really close together, unlike what I had experienced in the past, and every time you had a perfect frame all locked in, a shadow would cross. So I decided to try just getting the eyes. Click the photo for the big picture and the links to the individual photos.

It was a fun day but the crowds were huge! We did see/hear a crooning showdown, taste biscotti (although I had a hair and a piece of parchment paper in mine), get ices and see a lot of really nice artwork.

Word to the wise, however. It's probably not a good idea to bring your dog to any largely attended street festival. I saw two get stepped on and one who tried to stop walking and got dragged for a bit before his owner realized it. That couldn't have been fun for the pups.

You can see more of my Little Italy album here.

Change is Good

I've been feeling the overwhelming need for change.  Maybe I've been reading Purling Dervish too much, but it did start with the look of the blog.  Now I'm feeling the urge to change how I blog.  I'm not sure what that means yet, but I've set an unveiling date of November 21, 2008.  That's m'birthday, ya know. 

But I don't want to give away my beans before they hatch - they're worth two in the bush, doncha know.

Went to Lori's tonight and there were a slew of knitters there. And there was wine.  And new yarn.  Could it have gotten any better?  I don't think so. I started a Santa Cruz hat.  It's from some mystery yarn I found in my stash. No ball band.  Nothing.  At first I thought it was from the hand-dyed we did at Wendy's Dye Day back in 2006 (!) Hope I have it finished by the weekend. Cross your fingers.

Bye Wendy!

I knit in coffee shops most of today. It was good. Got a bit of sock done and got to visit with the SD Knit Gang (peeps, we need a handle!) It was also the last time to see Wendy before she becomes one of them. One of them high-falutin' northern Californians who feel superior over us southerners cuz they got their own water and all.  Yeah?! Well we got Fiesta Island, baby!  And it only smells like sewage on the really hot days now!  Fresh bit o' summertime that is! 

Anyway, I will miss Wendy cuz a) she's smarter than piss. b) she makes me laugh, laugh, laugh. c) she has the hugest heart of anyone I know - she SO the opposite of the Grinch.  Not to say that her heart is enlarged and she has health issues... d) she knows everything about knitting and spinning and is so very generous with that knowledge. e) she's got spunk.

Well, Wendy...I wish you and Nick and the pups of love the best of times up there in Y-reka.  I'm so happy you're going to be living the life you wanted and I know you'll do amazing things cuz that's just the kinda person you are.  If them Y-rekan knitters don't appreciate you, I give you permission to whack 'em on the heads with one of them spindle things.

This was one busy weekend!  And it didn't start off with a lot of brain-power from me.  I did laundry early in the morning so I could meet Wendy and the gang at the beach in the afternoon. Unfortunately, I put my precious quarters in one dryer and my wet clothes in another.  Didn't  realize it until I went to go get my nice, dry clothes.  D'oh!

I used that extra time well on Ravelry.  Yikes! Y'all weren't kidding about the time-suck thing!  I just keep clicking and clicking and it never ends!  A sock leads to a yarn leads to a designer leads to a sweater leads to a millionty other things.  I may have to quit my job.

I met the knitters at Coronado for a day at the beach.  Lemme tell you - dogs LOVE the beach.  I've never been to this section of the beach.  It was relaxing watching all the dogs run and swim and fetch.  It was a little windy, but it was still paradise.  Of course I had my trusty digital with me and managed to capture a slice of the San Diego sunshine.

Lovely, no?

Knitter Michelle came down with her cutely adorable baby, Maya who giggled and bounced and thoroughly enjoyed herself.  Glamazon beauty Sophie was also a beach baby, although she clearly knows all my deep, dark secrets because she cried anytime she got near me.  She's probably right for doing that - I wouldn't trust me.

Wendy brought Belu and she was very cute too.  (I hope she's not upset that I mentioned the babies first...) We were also lucky enough to be entertained by a random assortment of pups who stopped by to say hello.  I kept thinking it would be funny to let my mom bring her wacky Bentley out to run like a crazy mutt in the surf. But he has to learn to come when he's called a little better, I think.

After an afternoon at the beach my friend Cathy calls me to say she bought a new car. So we went for a cruise and a tea and I got home after midnight. Mostly because The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf was closing. Mmm - Pomegranate blueberry tea....

Lemme just axe you something real quick - this guy and his "date" (I thought it was a date, but they just hi-5ed each other all night) were sitting outside.  He grabbed the dirty espresso cup from another table and used that as his ashtray as he proceeded to smoke about 7 or 8 cigarettes over a 2 hour period.  As we were leaving I noticed TWO ashtrays sitting nearby in plain view.  Why would he use an espresso cup? That is so dang nasty I can't even comprehend.  Don't do that people - it's gross!

Sunday AM was church followed by a meeting with my friend Marva from Florida.  We went to the Hash House a Go-Go for brunch. Breakfast was unbelievable.  The portions are huge, but the food is also tasty so you get a good two days out of any meal you get.  This is Marva's pancake

And we weren't the only ones taking pictures of the food.  This plate is about 18" in diameter to give you an idea of scale. So, yes, that means the pancake was bigger than my head.

A quick stop at the Apple store to peek at the iPhones.  I sooo don't need one, but I sooo want one! Tried out an iMac and watched Marva's grandfish grandkids play in the pool. So cute!

Finally home again to rest and, for some reason, have a good cry about missing my grandmother.  Sigh.  Does that sense of loss ever go away?  Or at least does it stop whacking you in the face when you least expect it?

Y'know what? I'm too tired to finish this post.  Good night.

It's Official

It's only January 10 and I already need help sticking to my resolution.  I'm still working on a couple of gifts for other people and have yet to knit anything for myself this year!  I think I have to step up the commitment.  Should I make it a knit-a-long?  Anyone want to join me?  I'm not sure how to go about creating a KAL, but I'm game.  The rules are for every one item you knit for someone else, you HAVE to knit two for yourself.  That's it!  Anyone game?  Don't leave me hanging like the last kid to get picked for kickball, okay? I'm sensitive.

No Bears in Big Bear

Once upon a time there were 7 little girls who went to the Police Academy Big Bear... Yoly (who needs a blog), Mary-Kay, Nancy, Wendy, Heidi, Cristina and I ventured north for a little knitter's retreat. Much fun and frivolity were had.  We wore tiny nighties and smacked each other with pillows and then showered together.   Okay, maybe not, but someone just Googled "girls+nighties+pillow fight" and he is ever so disappointed right now.

       

      

The cars were packed (mostly with food, some knitting, some knitters) and we were ready to go to mountains.  How much food do 7 knitters need for a weekend in the mountains?  Apparently a grocery store's worth.  If we had been snowed in, we would have been set for a coupla months.

It was lovely lounging about knitting and watching Six Feet Under.  Lots of knitting was done and lots of laughing.  Mary-Kay boasted the first FO of the day - her nifty little sweater that is bound to get good use out in Colorado (don't leave, M-K!!!)  Yoly, who needs a blog, got some serious work done on her sock - I was impressed!  I worked on the Eyelet Chemise sleeves.  It's done now, just needs buttons.

We ventured out to the local "yarn store" where the yarn selection was somewhat disappointing for a cold weather area.  Still, there was much fun to be had and Mary Kay did scout some alpaca that she HAD to go back for. 

We dined in two yummy restaurants.  Don't remember what we had but it was delish, trust.  Of course we had to dine out because there was so much food packed in the fridge we couldn't determine how to get it out!  We took a walk down the main drag where I bought yummy fudge - the last of which I've yet to finish - and we also walked down by the lake.  Nancy bought a Christmas ornament which I just realized I forgot to give her at Mr. Heidi's pirate party. Sorry, Nancy!!!  Before Christmas, I promise!

Cristina took some excellent photos - check them out here.  Heidi also got some excellent photos - how'd she get the eagle and not the fence? Check 'em out here.

We also went to the zoo up there.  All the animals there are rescued and can not be released back into the wild.  The Bald Eagles were magnificent.  I tried and tired to get a decent picture but failed miserably.  Apparently some morons shoot Bald Eagles. The ones at the zoo can't fly anymore.  Wouldn't that be depressing? Being an eagle, yet not being able to fly?  Makes me sad just thinking about it.

    

 

This hefty dude was trying to catch a bath.

They also had wolves which were way cool.  I got a craptastic picture of one that fails to capture how large they are. I think this guy would have come up past my waist.

I'm not really a zoo person because I always think the animals must be incredibly bored there.  I mean stuck inside an enclosure that looks nothing like their natural habitat.  The cool thing is the Moonridge Zoo got a lot more property and will soon be moving to bigger digs.  If you've got any extra money lying about I'm sure they would appreciate it.

So much was learned that weekend.  Now I'm afraid I've forgotten most of it.  I will, however, ALWAYS remember to never lose my jewelry near Wendy.  Let's just say not everyone would be eager to find where she hides it....

Merry Mayham

The knitting gang (we should come up with a super cool club name, huh?) is heading out to the San Diego Renaissance Faire tomorrow.  I shall be all wenched up.  I will try very hard not to be embarrased of my antiquated digital and provide some pictures.  (I have the Flintstone model - there's a little bird inside with a sharp beak and a slab of rock inside - VERY heavy!)

I like Ren faires and can't imagine why they seem geeky to the general public.  I always see something interesting at the San Bernadino faire. There's loincloth man, bondage freaks, really large women in really heavy costumes showing more than the legal limit of cleavage, creative codpieces, bellydancers and once, whilst running 'round the maypole I saw a mini orgy!  It's so educational - bring the kiddies, won't you?

I should make a new chemise, but I'll just wear my fake one.  No telling how the bodice is going to look with the new boobs.  I may not get nearly the amount of freebies.

Hey! Today's my blogiversary!!  Happy blogiversary to me!!!! Happy blogiversary to meeee!!!!!  Happy blogiversary to Make Me!!!!  Happy Blogiversary to meeeee!!!!

I promised a contest, didn't I?  There was supposed to be a photo but I forgot and I'm too lazy to do it now.  The contest is guess how many full skeins, cakes, hanks, balls of yarn I have in my stash and win!!!  Here's a picture of the stash from January this year.

Has it increased or decreased???....hmmm. Guess the correct number of skeins and WIN, WIN, WIN!!!

FIRST PRIZE:  Two skeins of Lorrna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn!
SECOND PRIZE:  A nifty knit hat by yours truly!
THIRD PRIZE:  A handmade collage by yours truly!!

The contest is open until August 11, 2006, midnight, PST.  One vote per person please!

Wendy is Wonderful!

I can't tell you how much I was looking forward to the big knitting meetup in Long Beach last Sunday.  (Read Jessica's, Cristina's, Jillian's, Erika's and Kris' blogs for a full and accurate account) I so wanted to get out of the house and talk to real people instead of TV people and dust bunnies.  Mostly cuz the dust bunnies are starting to talk back....

Nancy, Heidi, Wendy, Cristina, Jessica and I braved the inclement 70 degree southern California weather in the pursuit of knit bloggers and yarn stores.  We have to do a San Diego gathering one of these days. 

At lunch my lack of knitting encouraged that sympathy I've grown accustomed to.  Even though I was perfectly happy watching Nancy fight the Entrelac Mohair Monster that left her absently swatting at her face.  Her Lady E is going to be so, so worth it though - the colors are amazing.  My house has been the knitting Sahara.  I started many a project only to look at it fifteen minutes later with utter disgust.  I can't seem to concentrate. I started a two or three hats, a scarf, thought really hard about a couple of sweaters, but I couldn't get started.  I even managed to block out the siren call of my growing stash.

Wendy said she had a gift for me.  Yay!  Who doesn't love a gift?! Even though the word(s)of the day was midget porn, (hiya pervies! welcome to my blog!) I couldn't wait to see what surprises were in store. 

Talk about surprise!  Not migdet porn at all, but

    (Love those Brittany cable needles!)

And all because of this email:

Hilari: Mom left town last Tuesday.  I handled it well and only cried for two hours.  Luckily my friend noticed that emotional ups & downs were part of the package.  My attention span has been kinda limited so I'm just seeing your message now!   Thankfully, my neighbors have been keeping the coffers stocked so I want for nothing.  Except maybe some Manos.  And some cotton yarn to make this sweater I've had my eye on.  Oh!  And some Denise Interchangeables! Yeah - that's all necessary for recovery!  I swear!  Goodness! Just stick me on an offramp with a "Will knit for yarn" sign, will ya?!  But honestly...I never thought she'd take me literally....

Hmmm, I knew I shoulda put "houseboy" in there!  Still, it's the most awesomest gift ever! Unfortunately this means that now I have to sing.  Wendy has become the Wind Beneath My (Knitting) Wings because last night, over eager to use my new gift, I did this:

That there is the beginning of Sonnet.   

Wendy, did you ever know that you're my heee-rooooooooo?

I'm a Joiner

I'm going to Rebecca's in South Park this afternoon to hopefully avoid all the SuperBowl hoopla.  I've also joined Yarn Harlot's

      can you believe there are already over 2K participants.  We'll outnumber the real olympics pretty soon!

I was going to knit Ella, but the nurse told me that while I can still knit post surgery, I probably won't be able to do anything too complicated.  So that has me thinking about Clapotis.  We'll wait and see what happens.

I've also joined Carole Knits' Anti-Stash Along.  I'm slow out of the gate, but I should be able to make a solid finish. 

I found the list of group knitting activities in San Diego and I'm thinking I want to make a dent in all of these - just for fun. 

Friday night I went to Two Sisters in La Mesa for a knit fix and took a felted purse class.  My purse is in Twilleys of Scotland and I think it will felt right nicely.

Am also working on my second Panta for the Panta - along.  This one in Takhi Shannon.

See, I do play well with others!