better late than never

I'm finally back on my diet. It's a little late for the Summer season, but I need to get back in shape. I'm absolutely commited to eating correctly and working out. My plan is to regain flexibilty and reduce my body fat ratio. I'll eat a low sugar, low salt, low carb, high protien diet. That's the easy part. The hard part is to stay away from fast food and Cokes. I need a Coke right now. Eat to live and not live to eat. Right!

Sample breakfast:

This month I started my Etsy store. It's really cheap to list and sell your handmade goods. So far a few visitors have come by to see my stuff, but no sales yet. I Googled some of my items and they didn't show up on the search. Then I Yahoo searched my stuff and didn't get any hits at all. I'm shocked! My items should be reached by search engine. I'm so discouraged. I don't know what to do about it. I need to fix it in a hurry!

Here's a few bracelet's that I made for gifts.

Charms from Disney World

Magnetic Hematite and Garnet Bracelet

Drugde

Today at work (I'm still here), I became the extra person. I hate being the extra person, because my sups try to find dumb things for me to do. It's as if they think I shouldn't be allowed to do get paid doing nothing. It's not my fault that the schedule overlaps on Tuesday mornings. So thank goodness I brought my scarf project. I surfed the internet looking at local bead stores. Then the firewall failed to keep me from accessing Myspace. I messaged my friend Tina a coupla times. I discovered Victoria's Secrets bra and panty sale. It was another firewall lapse. I also read a few book reviews. By this time coffee was failing me, so I got out my scarf and started knitting it. I got a few rows done before I started falling asleep. I managed to add one stitch and drop another. Big warning! Don't knit at work while falling asleep. I'm spending the last hour of my shift, ribbing the last five inches of rows. *SIGH*

Mosiac knitting

I got a tip from an anonymous blogger. Schoolhouse Press is publishing Mosiac Knitting by Barbara Walker in April. It's more afforadable than the 1976 copies. They even offer free shipping with a pre-order. It sounds like my knitting library will be greatly enriched. I'm very happy for the opportunity to own a copy.

Rare Knitting Book?

Mosaic Knitting
By Barbara G. Walker
Could this be the most expensive knitting book currently for sale? While searching the internet for book written by Barbara G. Walker, I came accross a copy of Mosaic Knitting on E-bay. Part of the money gets donated to charity, so that may explain the $627 asking price. Biblio is selling a copy for a book store called Ventura Pacific Ltd. It's priced at $494 and it's a second addition reprint. Amazon sellers have copies available for about $150. I've only reviewed one of Barbara's books, A Fourth treasury of Knitting patterns, and I'm impressed. I about fell over when I saw a picture of a cabled tote knitted in the round. The instructional charts are written in plain, uncomplicated terms and are easy to follow. She also makes references to Elizabeth Zimmerman's style of knitting. After further internet searching I realized that all of Barbara's books are expensive and the prices are highly competative. It may be impossible to find any of her books at a discount price. I think they're worth every penny. I'd be willing to purchase her knitting book for $150. I've spent that much at one time buying yarn. I'll add it to my Amazon.com wishlist.

busy bee

Last night, I stayed up late to watch Project Runway. When I went to sleep, I dreamed that I was in a jewelry making competition. I had to make a necklace out of beads and other stuff. They gave me until midnight to come up with a design. I was concentrating hard and working furiosly to put my design together. It was too weird. It was just like the show. Now If I can just dream of myself as a competetor on the Iron Chef's of America show.  Especially if cheese is on the menu.

I've been busy knitting and making jewelry. It's been so much fun. I started making earring like these using paillettes. I got tired of constructing the heart themed ones so I took a detour and made a pair with green stars.

Stripes!

I finally made myself a striped scarf. I've been wanting it for a long time. I could never figure out how I wanted to knit it. One day I decided to cast-on 210 stitches and go for it. I love the results. It blocked nicely, but Brown Sheep tends to come out right. Later, while digging through my belt drawer, I realized that I almost copied my striped web belt from Old Navy. HUH!

Ski hat and scarf

I knit this for my nephew. I told him That I'd make a hat for him two years ago. He'd been asking me the whole time if I'd made it yet. Well I finally shipped it to him just when it started to get cold in Kansas City. He was very excited when it cam in the mail and he likes it very much. I used Brown Sheep Bulky and two strands of worsted doubled. It was a lot of fun to make. The burgandy color is a worsted superwash that was made by I-can't- remember-who. I can't wait to make another one.

Vintage beaded choker/bracelet

I've I just finished trying to post this blog using http://www.photobucket.com/ , but it lost my entry after I it asked me to log in again. I'll add more coments later. After I've calmed down.

Craft Fair/Christmas 05

During the first week of December 05, America West Airlines held their annual craft fairs. This picture is taken at the airport. They also had a craft fair at 52nd ST in the vacations workplace. I started out over at vacations. There were a lot of women with a lot of stuff. I learned a few tips from jewelry makers. I was fascinated by the volume of merchandise. They were heavy on the Thai Silver and Swarvosky Crystals. Some vendors made food to sell. I ate a Manwhich, chips and cookies. It was pretty good especially since I was so crazy with excitement ,that I forgot to bring my lunch. They scoped some of my pieces too. It was very enlightening to socialize with the other vendors. I received a lot of info on how to save money on jewelry making materials. Everyone was very helpful.

I made the wooded ladder specifically for displaying scarves. Illanna gave me the idea. I have to say that it should've been easy to make, but my drill decided to quit working. I had to tighten all of the screws by hand. It was hard to turn the screws without a pilot hole. When it was finished, I was so proud of my ladder, that I didn't mind the extra closes. They were hard earned. YEP! I didn't sell anything at the airport. I got there too late. Foot traffic had slowed down and no one had any money left to. This year, I'll setup at the airport first. Later that night. I went to First Friday's. Mel and I surprised each other when she came to hang with her friends. She found me set up at the table next to them. We sung Christmas Carols and cavorted with passerby's. I sold two scarves and had a blast!

Kate gave me this adorable knitted sweater and several other mini ornaments for Christmas 05. I have to be honest and tell you that these were the cutest things on my tree. Everyone just loved them. They zoomed in on the little dress, then got excited when they spotted another one, like the little stocking. My other ornaments must've been chopped liver they only earned a disinterested glances. That's OK because these mini knitted gifts are on my "best Christmas gift ever" list. They didn't seem to make much of my tree topper. I don't care what anybody thinks. I love my "L!" (for Letoya) This year I'll learn to make mini knitted ornaments, so I can give away the gift of happiness for Christmas.

See the little dress? Unfufu made an appearance. I coolant pack her away for the season. The tree skirt is pink flurry fleece with silver threads. That was fun to make. OK, not really.

Photobucket

This is a test post from Photobucket.com

UM.......

Grey Wicca. you are the grey Wicca,
soiltary,energetic, and shady. you come out at
ducks to worship the godesses and nagels, and
come out at midnight to worship the moon. you
are the helper of the Death Moon Witch. your
song is "3 1/2"(three and a half) by AFI.



Ok I'm done. I'm also going to look up the grey wicca thing. Yeah, I'm a night person. I hide in the daylight. Did you catch the typos? HEHE! "Ducks"


What witch are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

blog filler

Your beauty lies in your soul.

There are so many unlike you in this world. You're
like a very rare diamond. No, diamonds can't
shine as much your soul.

Your motive:

To help others in need and maintain happiness
withen others around you.

Your quote:

If you fall either I fall with you or I'll catch
you pull you back up.

Your colors:

Silver and Gold

Your song:

Wings of a Butterfly - HIM

"Come on and show them your love. Rip out the
wings of a butterfly."

Please rate and message.


Where do You Find Your Beauty?
brought to you by Quizilla

RIT-tastic!

Yesterday after work, I decided to dye a skein of brown sheep bulky. I've been craving rich dark brown colored bulky yarn. I had already dyed this same skein with variagated koolaid colors. I liked the coolaid colors

Mini Market shopping.

I got out and about this weekend. The weather was still too hot at one hundred degrees. I had lunch with a good friend on Friday, then went shopping. I did chores around the house all evening and went to bed early. Saturday morning I went to the downtown market. I bought a skein of beautiful yarn spun by Lisa Takata. She calls it Greenjeans. I don't know what it will be yet, but for now I'm just happy to have it.

I milled around the market talking to different craft vendors, mainly beaders. I can't wait to sell my own stuff. It looks nothing like what they were selling. I don't make lampwork beads or create jewelry with it. It's pretty, but usually too heavy for the stuff I like to make. Natural stones are nice in small beads, but they are expensive. Another seller at the market made novelty pieces. They were very creative. Anyone, would want to wear her stuff or buy it as a gift. She made dangle earrings from an old fashioned weight scale numbers. She snipped the tin in sections that displayed the metric markings. It was too cute.
I left the market and met the Hartley gang at City Market Bakery. We knitted and ate delicious food. I cheated on my diet and bought a large peanut butter cookie. After that we drove to Jessica's Knits to see Illanna and shop for yarn. It was her birthday. I think she had a good a pretty good one, because she walked around the store in a contented daze just smiling.
Sunday morning, I worked like a crazy person. After work I went to Michael's with my forty percent off coupon. I bought a frame for a photo print. Yep, I actually bought a brand new frame. I didn't "acquire" it away from a Goodwill customer or deconstruct a perfectly good framed print. I can't wait to hang it on the wall.

Cattle Drive

On the way home yesterday afternoon, I tried to get on I-10 at 7th st. Traffic was extremely heavy so I kept driving south on 7th st. I wanted to go east toward home, but I couldn't make a left turn. Traffic moved me south. I was able to go east on Washington or Jefferson. I decided to keep going and go to the bead store in Tempe. They moved. I'd forgotten that Beads International moved closer to Mills Mall. I went to another bead store in Scottsdale since I was so far south already. The store is in the shopping center on the west corner of McDowell and Scottsdale RD. It was closed. It was supposed to stay open until 6pm. They closed early. So I went home. I need eye pins and a few beads. I'm working on another bracelet and Jollygreen dangles. I'll try to find Beads International after work today. It will before the traffic rush, so I shouldn't be forced to detour with the flow of traffic.

Jolly Green Dangles

Well, this is my lastest creation. My creations and technique gets better with each project. I think of my earlier work and cringe. I gave a lot of bracelets to family, friends and coworkers as gifts. They probably thought I was being mean. I know they were just too happy while accepting my ugly bracelets. LOL!
I used pailettes, crystal, silver and glass.

Amazing find

I found the pailettes at SAS yesterday. They have a huge variety of sequins. They charge about 25 to 50 cents for a small bag. They also charge my the ounce. I bought as many large hole pailettes as I could find. I am most surprised by the silver trapezoid. I remember looking everywhere for them when I made that dumb granny hat in the SnB book. The buttons are wood and they were 10 cents each. I'm going back for more as soon as I hit the ATM. Cash works best at SAS.
I made these dangle earrings using sterling silver, Thai Silver, glass and crystal. I only had two glass beads. So I can't make another pair. I don't remember where I bought them.

Tears 4 Spheres

Here's another finished Tears 4 Spheres bag. Can you tell Steve's a product of the MTV era or what? Really? This time I casted-on 52sts and added more holes for the drawstring. I'm going to add a handle and carry it as a purse. I learned a few things while making this bag. It opened my mind up to the many ways this pattern formula can be applied to kettle shaped designs. Can you tell it's getting close to Halloween? YAY! "Kettle" Get it? Anyway, I'm frogging the whole Winhara Poncho. I'm going to make my niece a sweater with the yarn. The poncho turned out to be a disaster. Details will be forthcoming in the next post.

Forgive the blurry picture. The auto focus was disabled and I couldn't keep my hand steady. I was going though cheese withdrawal.
Also below is an old picture of me. I can't remember how old I am in this picture. Can you guess? Obviously I was taken by surprise. I recall someone wanted to finish of a roll of film. If that picture was taken today, I could've been a boy with long braids. Let me explain a little more about this picture. The day this was taken, is very important to me. It captured a day I remember being happy. Of course I was happy to be at my grandparents house. I'm sitting at their kitchen table working on puzzles from the kids section of the Saturday paper. I remember it took awhile to get settled, because I had a hard time finding a pencil. Some things never change. I'm wearing a t-shirt my granny brought me from her Vegas vacation. It said,"My grandma went to Vegas and all I................." You know the rest of it. I didn't really like that t-shirt but I am wearing my favorite belt. That belt never needed to be adjusted because by this time, I was growing straight up. I'm wearing new jeans. This was the beginning of my love and appreciation for them. My mom had just started buying them for me. I don't know where the candy cane tube came from. It was nowhere near Christmas. Do you see the voter ID card? I remember being fascinated by it. I've been strangely fascinating with them ever since. So If I ever visit, just leave your voter ID card around and you'll make me instantly happy. To my knowledge "Normal" has never been an adjective used to describe me.

Mini me

Here's my finished Tears 4 Spheres bag. I cast-on 44sts. It's kinda small so I'm making a bigger one using the same yarn. It's easy and fun to knit.