Project Runway Crafts?

I watched the last episode of Project Runway last night. It was really good. Jay WON! He was ABFAB! I think the Judges picked him because of his originality. He hired knitters to produce a poncho and scarves. He hand dyed leather and used it to make a quilted coat. I never thought I'd see a quilted garment on a fashion runway in New York. He has a great fondness and respect for quilting. He says that his sister is a quilter. Each ensemble was one shade in the spectrum of a rainbow. All of his models walked the runway in color order. Each outfit reminded me of Kureyon. As if Kureyon was striped in a rainbow, fading in spectrum order. I think Jay waited until the final show to reveal his true capabilities. I will keep an eye on him. I can't wait to see more of his craft inspired designs.
Kara's collection was her usual brilliant self. Her designs were inspired by the determined, driven nature of Howard Hughes. She saw the recent movie about him. I think she lost the competition because Michael Kors thought the metal hardware on her designs resembled Gucci. I was thinking Channel myself. But anyway, you know what they say about the losers of these reality shows. That they often become the most successful. Her designs were more marketable and desireable than Jay's, but his collection seemed most likely to start a new trend.

IKEA

Well,
I went back to IKEA after work yesterday, to buy plants. I left with plants plus! I bought a lamp but got the wrong bulbs, a cutting board, foam bulletin board, metal strips, paper magazine storage boxes, tension curtain wire with clips, fabric swatch, a dish brush and rubber gloves. I wanted a certain desk lamp but it was on way way backorder. I will not return to IKEA until I settle on a color scheme for my living room and dining room. I don't want to return any items that won't match my decor.
Knitting:
Well, I am behind in several projects. I have three unfinished scarves, two unfinished sweaters and one beanie. I want to start a pair of socks. I need more time off work so I can finish my stuff. I also have to finish my braided towel rug for the bathroom. I need to construct my sculpey needle point protectors. And prepare my bedroom furniture for painting. There is a lot more but the task list is already heavy. My moms surprise scarf knit kit is almost complete. I need to write the instructions and buy the correct needle size. I will put it in a nice clear plastic bag. Maybe, a mini backpack like kids carry to school. My mom does everything at the kitchen table like, pay bills, fold laundry and watch TV etc. I know the kit will end up on the kitchen table. I want her to see the unfinished scarf every time she walks into the kitchen. Anyway, I gotta get back to work. I have a trainee shadowing me. **sigh**

Comparison

Last night I tried again using my Kodak. I used the flash and the zoom feature. I wonder which one is better. But they both look pretty good.

New Projects

Here is a pic of Brenden's Muffler. This is the very first scarf that I started. It took forever to finish because I got bored with the double seed stitch, then switched to garter.

Lana Grossa sweater front panel

I spent last evening with the nicest and most fantastic people. We met at BnN Desert Ridge for a SnB meet. I even remembered their names. It's because I wrote them down. Cynthia, KiKi, Steve and Kate with their daughters. HA! There's two more, but I didn't write their names and so I forgot. DOH!
I learned how to take better pictures thanks to Kiki and Steve. Kiki found a book called Ebay Photos That Sell: By Dan Gookin and Robert Birnbach. I thumbed through it at BnN and wanted to take it home immediately. It was too expensive to purchase. So I'm searching for a better price.
Here's a sample of what I learned just by reading those few pages. I could not find enough batteries for my Kodak digital, so I had to use my Fuji. The Fuji disables auto focus when the flash is turned off. For the background I taped a long sheet of white shipping paper in front of a box. I used a daylight simulating bulb as a spotlight. The bulbs are also called full spectrum light. I was using it for my plants. Anyway, it allows you to see the true color of your object. I need lots of practice. This will be too fun. I gotta get batteries today! I'll stop by the store on my way back from IKEA.

Needful Accessories

Friday, my friend Brenden came in from Denver for a weekend visit. He brought Wilma, a friend. After getting them settled into my apartment. We drove through the Biltmore Estates to show Wilma the mansions. Wilma works for Starwood Hotels. She wanted to see as many Starwood resorts as possible. Her company has a regional office at the Phoenician. She wanted to see that too! Then we walked around the shops at the Biltmore. I wore my confetti scarf from the SnB book and received a lot of complements. The Macy's sells clerk could not believe I made it. I love amazing people. I came away from Macy's with a Lesportsac L.A.M.B. bag.

I previously searched the Lesportsac website for a cami print L.A.M.B. bag but everything is sold out. E-bay has them for almost fifty percent more than the retail price. I grabbed a bag then Wilma grabbed another and we beelined to the checkout counter. They were fifty percent off! What a deal! I wanted to buy more to sell on E-Bay but my budget was already busted from buying yarn. The clerk also said that Gwen Stefani may not design for Lesportsac's next collection. She was right. Lesportsac has it's own collection this season called Remix. It's nice. I didn't see any of these at Macy's. Their buyer is slacking off!
Later, Wilma told me that women have scarf parties in Denver. She says the scarves sell for seventy-five dollars! I was shocked. She loved my scarf and wanted one of her own. She refused to give me her address. She wasn't willing to wait for me to make her another scarf. So, she offered to buy my scarf for fifty bucks. I agreed. I don't miss it. I can make more. Fifty bucks buys a lot of Trendsetter eyelash on E-bay.
I want to go to one of these "scarf parties." I need to ask Wilma to find one.
I also finished Brenden's muffler so he could take it back to Denver with him. He loved it! It's bright red. I used Lamb's Pride worsted in red baron. I will have a picture soon.
Last night, I wanted to go to the SnB meet at Coffee Rush, but I didn't feel up to the drive. I may attend the meet on Friday because it's early enough to avoid traffic.
I started my sweater jacket last night after reading the Translated instructions numerous times.

It is Lana Grossa Basics Modell No.2. The picture color is a little off. It uses Basics fancy print and Venezia yarn. It should knit-up fast. It requires the crochet poodle loop stitch. I absolutely need to learn how to crochet if I intend to use non-U.S. patterns. I have Canadian and German patterns that combine crochet and knitting. They don't seem to write patterns specifically designed for either knit or crochet as if it didn't matter.
Anyway, Lana Grossa has redesigned their website. The English version is much better.

cross posted in Ginean.

How to Knit Socks

Now I want to knit socks. Knitting socks didn't interest me until I tried to decide what to knit a friend for his birthday. I want to give him something personal and endearing so it will make him cry in front of our coworkers. I am evil. But anyway, I thought about a tie. Then again he only wears ties at funerals so I will knit socks instead. Since he shops carefully for his own socks, he will love a handmade pair! He's fond of the thick cotton, ribbed hiking type of socks. Now I need to learn how to knit a pair of socks. I don't have time to learn it from a book and my video doesn't cover it. I thought about attending a sock workshop at Jessica's but she doesn't have one scheduled anytime soon. I need another video or DVD so I Googled. I haven't found any sock videos or DVD's yet, but I found this website. It will open in another window. KnittingHelp.Com It's fabulous! It has video instruction clips on techniques that I've never heard of. I can't wait to go home and watch more of them. Until then I'll shop for sock yarn and a pattern. I can at least handle the tube part for now.

How to

How I Learned to Knit

My Learning to knit process became a quest. First, I had to find a learning resource and then use it to learn knitting. Whenever I need information that I can absorb in a relaxed enviroment, I get the book. I searched the public library catalog system for knitting books. None of them were beginner basics. Shannon told me to get a copy of Stitch N' Bitch. I was delighted with the book, but it's difficult to learn from a book. Shannon helped me with casting on and garter stitch. I also became a member of the Phoenix Stitch N' Bitch group. I got help there. Learning was frustrating and I began to lose momentum then stopped knitting. Sometime later, while planning to be homebound for a several weeks, I decided to try again. I went back to the library and found Bobbie Groome's knitting video. I loved it. It was a great help. I Kept the video for a long time. I kept it so long that the library figured I had lost the video or bought it. My knitting was going great because of the video. So, I returned it and looked for a copy of my own to buy. I found one E-retailer that was selling the video for sixty bucks. I wasn't prepared to pay that kind of money.

So I kept searching until I found a video on E-bay for 9.99. The seller's page listed the features, but didn't add any photo previews. I wasn't concerned. I just wanted the video. I lost two auctions before I won myself a copy. My knitting skills made a huge light year leap to intermediate. Learning from the video made it easier for me to read instructions in books. I highly recommend using an instruction video to began knitting then keeping it as a reference.

How to knit socks?..................

Progress Report

This is one finished side of my Winhara Poncho. I had one side finished, but It didn't look like it would fit me. So, I made a few adjustments and this is the result. I am sure it will fit. I used the Tahki bunny from my frogged tube shrug. I ordered the pattern from NeedfulYarns Inc.




This is my mini tote. It's the Scull and Crossbones felted tote from HelloKnitty.com. It looked unfinished and boring, so I added the flower. I used yarn from Serendipity. I dyed the golden yellow yarn using Rit. I got the felted poppy pattern from Magknits.com I can't wait to knit another one. I need to dye more felting yarn first. Maybe I'll do that after work today.

The Last Five Days

OK, here is an idea of what I've been doing for the last five days. I have been working. After work I may stop by the library on my way home. I may go to Michaels or the bookstore. Or I may go straight home and take a nap. After I wake from my nap, I freshen up and go to Trader Joe's. Or after a nap I may sit on the couch in my living room and knit.
I was off on Friday so I slept late until 9am. I milled around my apartment putting stuff back in their places, then I went to get a pedicure. The shop was lightly staffed and there was a 30 minute wait. So, I went to get gas and a drink from Quick Trip. It was my first time at Charlie's nail. Charlie is from Vieitnam and started a business so he could employ his migrating family. He's a nice guy and they did a good job. I feel bad for not getting the girl's name. I'm so rude. Maybe I'll bring her something when I go back next. I got my toenails painted red. It's so bright that it on the orange side. I call it "cheap" red.
Later last Friday I went to Blockbuster and rented two really bad movies. The Forgotten and When Will I Be Loved with Neve Campbell. Both movies were a disappointment.

cross posted Ginean

SUNDAY

I can't believe how long it's been since I made an entry. What have I been doing for the last five days?