:Yarn Love :

A Different Kind of Work In Progress!

Nicky5 Comments

Errrrr …. no …. I’m NOT with child although in my mind, that’s one of the most beautiful WIPs in the whole wide world!  LOLOL!!!

The W.I.P that I’m talking about is one that’s been watching me since March 2011.  Yeah … I know … more than two years.

Let’s just back-track a little.  More than two years ago, when I was a yarn newbie, I bought some skeins from a now defunct Sanguine Gryphon.  The yarn arrived, they were beautiful but I didn’t have a swift; that umbrella, ella, ella, aye, aye, aye (I couldn’t resist saying that … LOLOL!) thingie used to make the yarn cakes.  So I tried to use a chair … one that didn’t MOVE people!!!!!  So my ball-winder was going but the chair was not spinning so a ball could form.  Then I tried to untangle the small tangle that happened to the yarn and I ended up with a colossal mess.  I was so “over it” I just chucked the tangle in my yarn stash and ignored it with consistent regularity!  LOLOL!  Every time I went into my stash, it was begging me to untangle it.  But I was not swayed; I was never in the mood to untangle 420 yds of fingering yarn!  LOLOL!

I went through my stash this week for a swap I’m participating in. After I packed everything up, I found that the bag with the tangled mess was left out.  I took that as a sign!  LOLOL!   Since getting to my stash is sometimes so inconvenient, I just decided to go ahead and sort it out.

So I started with this:

A Different Kind of WIPand after a few hours … I had this:

IMG_2661I’m going to try my best to finish this tomorrow.  There is something therapeutic to be said about trying to find the end.  Every time I untangle a few yards, I tell myself, just a few more.  Weird, I know.  So while I’m sweltering in this heat-wave we’re having here, I’m going to work on this becoming an F.O. 😀  Other than the yarn being totally awesome and use-worthy,  I need to get my money’s worth from this pretty!!!  😛

Another Twofer: 21/52 & Craft Book Challenge

Nicky4 Comments

craftbookchallengesmall buttonI don’t even know where to start, so let me lead with the craft-book challenge!  If you haven’t read the post below, you wouldn’t know that I finally finished my first sweater!!!  I’ve had this pattern in my Ravelry library since March 2012!  I can now cross that off my list.  Although I didn’t do much else this month, this F.O. is so much of a success for me that I don’t even mind.  😀

I also wanted to:

I’m swatching the blanket today and beginning the shawlette and shawl this coming week.  Technically, they’ll still be started in May but since this is the last Sunday of the month, I’ll just move them to my W.I.P list for June.

21/52

This week was a good week.  Although it’s been raining and making me feel like I live in Seattle I have much to be thankful for.

  • I found out why my ankle was swollen.  Arthritis!!! Can you believe it?!!!  I’ve had it in my knees since I was 11 but it never stopped me from running track (100 m dash sprinters stand up!!!  😀 ), climbing trees, playing volleyball, playing dodge, climbing this volcano 4 times, trekking through forestland and through my urban jungle (only God alone knows how many miles I’ve walked here).  I have never had a flare-up that’s affected my ankles … never.   With all the rain this week, my ankle has moved from the size of a small egg to one of a large grapefruit.  That says to me that the ailment is progressing but it’s not disheartening to me at all. Honestly, I’m just grateful that I know what it is and that it’s not something new I have to deal with health-wise.  I’m basically stuck in my apt this weekend because it’s uncomfortable to walk around for long periods, but hey … that means more crafting time for me.  😀
  • The elevator in my apt complex is finally fixed.  Thank God for that.  It was fixed and inspected by the city on the day my ankle was acting up the most and I’m grateful I didn’t have to take 12 flights of stairs that day.  Wooohooo!
  • I’ve decided that I’m not going to look for another rental apt.  Eeeeek!!!  I’ve decided to look for a condo to purchase!!!!  My goal is to move by the end of the year. When I thought about the predatory practices of real estate agents here (who the heck is a closer and why do I have to pay them a fee just for giving me rental papers to sign?) , the exorbitant fees and cost I’ll have to pay to rent a unit, the effort it takes to pack up, unpack, look for an apt in NYC … I just can’t do it anymore.  I want to be able to pack up, move to where I’m going, unpack and finally call some place home and not have to go through this jungle-like market that exists here again.  I’m over that, so a new journey is beginning for me out of this city’s rental dysfunction.
  • I GOT PRETTIES!!!!  I found spinning class that I’m gamed to take in July, but in the mean time, me and my spindle have some more pretties to play with.  😀  I have to admit that I haven’t been spinning as much but I’m going to try to practice for 15 mins. a day beginning this week.  Wanna see my new pretties?  😀

IMG_2600 IMG_2602 IMG_2603 IMG_2606 I got these all from Countess Ablaze’s Etsy shop!  Very affordable but you’ll have to wait about 15 business days for delivery since she’s shipping from England.  Definitely worth the wait.  I’m so excited about these pretties. 😀

The rain has made outside look so clean and brilliant.  The trees look extra green, the sky extra blue.  I hope you all are enjoying beautiful weather in your neck of the woods.  I’m off to draw the curtains, mess around with some crochet and watch some Miss Marple mysteries.  Yep … I’m a proud fuddy-duddy. 😀  I have fun crafting and watching British flixs.  😀

Happy Sunday and US readers, enjoy your Memorial Day break tomorrow.  😀 If you pray, remember to pray for our troops.