Archive for January, 2009

Designing Woman

30 January, 2009 | Amy | No Comment

I’m toying with the idea of designing my own vest. Yes, I’m probably nuts, because my math skills aren’t the best, but I figure a vest is easier than a complete sweater. After all, it doesn’t have arms (which is really good considering how long it’s taking me to knit the darn sleeves for Cassidy).

yarnbasket

My vest will be striped, using lots of my scrap yarns that knit up to 24 sts/in. It will have a U-neck. It will NOT be cropped. It will be a nice, comfortable length. It will be fitted, but not too tight to wear comfortably with a button-down blouse. Perfect, right? At least it is in my imagination :)

This project is just the thing for Vest-uary, a knit-along organized by Prairie Poppins.

ETA: Ok, as pretty as these yarns look together in the basket, they look terrible knitted side-by-side. I’m rethinking the vest idea and may just try Veronik Avery’s Veste Everest…

Book-aholic

29 January, 2009 | Amy | 2 Comments

library books

I was so very proud of myself earlier this year when I decided to stop buying so many books and start borrowing them from the public library. Since only one of the adults in this house has a income-generating job, our budget is pretty tight. We’re not struggling, mind you, but even a millionaire would have trouble supporting my book habit.

I LOVE all kinds of books. Musty books, new books, hardbacks, paperbacks, big and small, fiction, non-fiction, illustrated, tiny text and onion-skin paper…you name it. That’s all well and good, but they cost a lot and take up a lot of space. Last summer, the biggest and hardest project I took on was finishing two wall-sized bookcases. Even they don’t contain all my precious tomes.

I’ve made a concerted effort at taking books to the used book store or donating them to charities, but that doesn’t really seem to make a difference. Borrowing instead of buying has made a huge and positive difference.

But now I have a new problem. I can’t seem to manage my library queue so I only end up with a reasonable number of books. Today, I walked out with two dozen books cradled in my arms. I’m not sure how I’ll make time to read them all! Give up knitting? (no) Stop cleaning the house? (possibly) Whether or not I succeed, I’m sure I’ll have fun trying.

I’m keeping track of what I’m reading this year on the 52 books page of my website. And since two dozen books still isn’t enough for me, I’d love to hear any suggestions you have for good reads.

Here Comes the Sun

28 January, 2009 | Amy | 2 Comments

It’s hard to feel too terribly grumpy when the sun finally breaks through what once seemed like an impenetrable wall of grey clouds. The sun is what saved Robert from a battery of guilt trips after he confessed he had forgotten my birthday–and that he had promised to go out with some friends tonight. Ordinarily, that would have gotten my ire up, but wonderful golden light is keeping my spirits buoyant.

Robert promised to make it up to me on Friday. He’s going to get a babysitter and make reservations at a nice restaurant. I’m looking forward to that! I can’t remember when we last went out sans kids.

Today, though, I’m spending the day doing things I like to do. The laundry and all other unpleasant chores are going to remain undone.

I started by cutting apart the “hospital gown” so I could fashion them into pants for Claire. The sewing shouldn’t take too long, but I thought it would be fun to add an applique bird.

applique bird

I then read a little bit from one of the books I picked up recently from the library, Sophie Kinsella’s Can You Keep a Secret?? It is hilarious! It reminds me a lot of Bridget Jones’s Diary (movie tie-in). The main character’s inner monologue is so real and crazy–well, you’ll just have to read it for yourself. It’s a treat!

Finally, I started baking a cake for myself. sifting

I’m using an old family recipe for a layer cake with walnuts and mocha frosting/glaze. No one seems to know its origin, but it’s been our standard birthday cake for years and years and years. I’ll post the recipe and a photo of the finished cake tomorrow.

ETA: The sun only made a brief appearance today. I started feeling bluer the greyer it got outside. This is the first time getting older really bothered me–and, to be honest, I’m not sure it’s aging that’s getting to me or the lack of fanfare that’s surrounded the occasion. It could also be the fact that Claire’s bird pants do not fit her comfortably. I swear, some of those Simplicity patterns are cut for space aliens, not humans!

Claire mangled the cake while it was cooling on the wire rack. It’s now a big heap of crumbs covered with lots of chocolate frosting. It’s far beyond being photogenic, lol! However, I’m sure it will taste good!

I apologize for the tenor of this post. I want to keep things positive here, but sometimes I just need to talk through things–and you know what? I already feel better for having done so.