Temporary Monkey

What I've Been Up To #2

www.handlespout.com

What I've Been Up To #1

Not this, aparently. But I promise I've been busy. If you want to see what with, please stop by the Holiday Craft Sale this Sunday.

Hope to see you all there!
For those of you who just can't wait, here's a sneek peek into my life for the last few months:

Sew Cool

My sister sent me a link to this new Burda sewing site. If you are a sewer, it is just about the coolest thing. It's a pattern site where all patterns are copywrite free, easily downloadable and free. But not only that. They are also really cute, young and hip. Like you.

Animal Collective

Now that the season is over and all the gifts have been given, I am finally at liberty to share my most recent crafting obsession with you.

She's At it Again

For the past few months I really fell off the personal crafting cliff. I picked up my needles once for a week to regurgitate a big brown blanket and managed to finally mend a few garments, but beyond that it had been a pretty sad, craftless state. I am happy to say that I am back on the wagon. It started when I pulled out the sewing machine for a few small baby gifts (which I will post pics of soon, after the gifts have been given). It kept going when I left the machine out to make a couple of pillows. And now, the final crafting commitment has been made: I am knitting again, and have decided to tackle a Rebecca sweater pattern.

I started last night and decided to plow through my first skein, as I was still trying to decide if I made the right yarn/color choice.

The verdict is that I love the yarn (Rowan Cashsoft Aran). It is so soft. So nice to work with. So washable. So expensive. I am still feelling nervous about the color, but I think I am going to stick it out. It is very pretty, just not something that I usually wear. I hope it looks good. If not, one of you might get a very expensive, very hand-made gift sometime in the next few months. . . keep your fingers crossed.
A blurry, but accurate, close-up of the color:

long time, no monkey

I realize a)it's been a really long time since my last post and b) it's been an even longer time since I posted about monkey. For those of you who have been worried, I say don't fret. He is alive and well and keeping busy. Most recently (if you can call November recent) he got in the Thanksgiving spirit and costumed himself as a god-fearing pilgrim. He hasn't changed since. Come to think of it, that makes me a little nervous. We are going to have to have a talk.

Chic Sixties

Thanks to the success of my last sweater project, I have been inspired to keep those needles flying and venture back into the world of knitted clothes. I had plans to make the "Irregular Rib" sweater from the new loop-d-loop book, but that didn't really turn out as planned. So, instead I borrowed Carrie's Most. Incredible. Knitting. Magazine. Ever. (Spring 2005 Phildar) and chose a really adorable cardigan from that. It needs some tweeking (I am doing mine sans the bizzarro circle mod pocket & steering clear of pastel purple) but I think it should be pretty cute in the end. I got a few skeins of the cotton classic (best known for its use on Carrie's buns [and burgers]) in color #3009. It's a kind of silvery-blue. What would you call that in words? Robot blue? Twilight haze? Bluetron? E-Blue? Whatever.
I just started earlier this week and have only gotten to the hip shaping on the back. Oh la la, as they say in Paris. That's Hot.

Me & My Sweater

I know it's been a long, long time. There is no need to point it out, or to make a big deal. I will admit that I have been lazy, that I have been busy & that I have been extremely inconsiderate to leave all of you out in the cold with no post in sight. But, let's leave all this behind us and celebrate two very special moments in this girl's life: I finally finished my first sweater ever and I got a digital camera.
Thank you, thank you. I have returned.

Will Marry Girl Who Knits

Hey all you single, knitting & cold-faced ladies, grab your needles & please refer to post #36. I think I may have found the man for you.
It may be a little late for valentines day, but it's right on time for love.

Doppelblogger III: Monkey Trouble

It appears that Monkey is not alone, and he's pissed.

I came across this blog today through the knitgrrl site, and I am all sorts of torn up. There is another Monkey out there, using his name, and crafting up a storm. I don't know what to do.
At first I thought Monkey would be glad to see that he is not alone but, contrary to my hopes, he is not taking it well. And, of course, it really doesn't help that this monkey twin is equiped with all of those pesky sensory organs that Monkey has been living so long without. How do you tell someone you love why they do not have a mouth? Ears? Nostrils? My only hope is that he'll never figure out a way to ask. Let's hope he never learns morse code.