My kind of Knit -a - long

Lets just say I am not a knit along kind of girl. I like doing things at my own pace and when I want to do them, but this one interest me. In this past year I had tried to put myself on a yarn diet...that did not work at all. I have tried to use some of my stash for projects but with stores going out of business and those evil sheep and wool festivals I gained more weight...literally.

I got this from Nancy's blog... and she got it from a few others. Its an industrious knit along.



The corner of my living room can be mistaken for a small yarn store and I need to lighten the inventory.
I have already started using my stash for the scarf for the Red Scarf project and I have to finish some caps.
So luckily there will be enough to use up a lot of my stash in this coming new year.... can we all say socks socks and socks.
Hey...maybe I will finally start that messenger bag ... hot damn !

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all !!!

Hope Santa is very good to everyone and that no one gets coal or acrylic yarn in their stocking.

FELIZ NAVIDAD

Twas the night before Christmas ...

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a thing was organized, no not in my house.

It has been a while since my last blog entry and for this I apologize but I work retail and that is all I have to say.

The few knitted gifts that I planned have been wrapped except for the cardigan that I was planning to give my mom. I really should have started a lot earlier than I did, she will get it this winter... considering it is 55 degrees in December she will have it ready for the summer snowfall.

I have worked the last six days and it is finally catching up to me and if it wasn't for the nap that I took today...I would be asleep underneath this table.

So for now this is my quasi entry for the night....more to come.

I promise there will be more soon.....

Get the cookies ready for Santa !!!

My Thanksgiving Day.... Im Pooped

Happy Thanksgiving to all !!!

Time for rest for all.

Today like millions of people in this country my family and friends celebrated Thanksgiving Day. There are many of us that are scattered all over this city and we don't get to see each other often. So Thanksgiving Day is our family day. For years it was New Years Eve but it has moved earlier and earlier in the past few years.

It was my turn... to be the one to get the turkey together. Well my mom and I shared the turkey duty. I have been watching her for years, I know the routine like I know how to knit and purl. But my mom is my mom and she has to step in... so the turkey was 75% me and 25% her. I must say so myself... my turkey was fabulous. The pernil ( roast pork shoulder) was perfect and of course the rest of the food.

This was our table before the hungry masses attacked it.


And this is after !
I was pushed and shoved as I carved the big bird.


I am so Thankful for my family and friends.
They are so deverse and amazing ... through the good times and bad... we are always there for each other.
The family had a great time and we all had a blast. We joked laughed and had a few too many drinks. There are pictures of family members dancing in a black short bob wig... but those are for those important blackmail moments.

Of course no party would be complete without my best friends. Nancy has been a permanent fixture in my home for the past 26 years and I get pushed aside when she comes in. Now everyone is in awe of her beautiful family.
Mark has been around for 15 years and besides the fact that my mom askes for him and if he is coming ... he comes for the food... he also makes me sit down and eat since I spend most of the time making sure everyone is fed and happy... its the hostess in me. I feel the love ...


So now its time for some rest... and I actually have tomorrow off... can we all say sleep and knit.
My crazy holiday season starts this weekend and you all can find me at register #10 at my store or making sure all the new stock hits the sales floor.

Have a great weekend

A blog without pictures....oh damn

Hello All

So what is a blog about knitting without knitting pictures?

A journal entry without the goodies.

I don't know whether it is the blogger system today or my computer ( chances its my older computer ) but I cannot get the pictures to upload.

Lately I have been busy getting my store ready for the holiday rush and working to hire up some extra holiday help. I have been doing retail for a long long time and I really don't get a chance to enjoy the holiday season as much as I did when I was a kid. I do enjoy Thanksgiving Day and the whole family coming to my moms and this year she will have a surprise ( don't tell her but my nephew is flying up from Florida to surprise her -- don't worry, my mom doesn't read my blog )
Since most of the kids in the family under the age of five are in Florida except for my niece Nyrie there isn't the big hoopla for the kids, the tons of gifts and me having to wrap them all. Everything is quiet and simple but I do go to Nancy's house Christmas Eve, its our tradition. We do our thing with her boys and just hang out for the evening. I am usually exhausted by the end of the night and they are rolling me off the couch so I can get home. Maybe someday if and when I have my own family I will create my traditions.

I have to at some point sit down and write a gift list. Except for the few goodies that I am knitting, I have no clue what to buy my family and friends. Yesterday I hung out with my friend Heather to go shopping finally. Heather got some gifts and I bought myself three DVD's and CD's, a pair of pants and a top. Don't judge ... I need some spoiling too.

As for the knitting goodies they are coming along. I have become a Magic Loop guru. I have finished two pair of wool thick socks to wear at home ( see the nice pictures.. love the color).
I just finished a cap using my BrooksFarm Four Ply that I bought at Rhinebeck ( love the way it stripes.. don't you agree ) and I am starting the famous Odessa today and another hat set using the Lopi I bought in Iceland for Mark...of course in blue and black.
The major project is the cardigan for my mami, the back is almost done and then it will be the my best friend for the next month.

How is everyone doing on their gifts this season?

Rhinebeck Roadtrip

Overnight stay at the Best Western in Poughkeepsie and a new job as a doorlady ...$65.00

Assorted Brooks Farm and Spirit Trail and other goodies yarn haul ...$165.00

Apple Crisp ala mode .... $5.00

Riding in the mini van with Nancy, Katy and Sue .... PRICELESS

This past weekend was the infamous Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival. It was my first time at any sort of wool extravaganza and let me say it was a little overwhelming at times. The amount of wool, roving, fleece and handspun was wild.
I had the absolute pleasure of riding up to the festival with the best bud Nancy and of course Katy and her mom Sue.
We all had our budgets planned and a plan of action... sock yarn first and then the rest of the fair. Of course all the Socks that Rock was gone in 2.5 seconds when the doors open but I was very happy with my Spirit Trail and a good deal on Lorna Laces and Koigu.

I am simply in love with my Brooks Farm haul and some people in my life will have some great gifts this holiday season.

Overall the festival was fun, I don't know how often I will return and I did hear that it was not as exciting as last year and it is getting as crowded as Maryland...It was amazing to see so many lovers of our craft in one location.

I had a ball joking around and handing out with Sue and Katy. It was the first time that I have met them, and they made the long ride on I-9 so much fun.... silver diners, subaru dealerships and FDR will never be the same again.

At the blogger meet up I was able to see some familiar faces again, and I met some new friends. It was like a knitting fashion show and high school reunion all in one. Who would believe that fried articokes could cause such havoc or people hiding to eat fried dough in private would be so scandalous.

So I have finished my first Magic Loop sock, its a worsted weight winter sock.. and it does knit up fast. Lets see how much I like it when I am working on #1 needles. But it will be great when I have to do all those hats next week.

Duck ... Duck... No Goose

Here's my duckie, well... here is Zoe's Duckie.

I was asked by a co worker to make a duck for his niece Zoe. It seems that there is a love for ducks in the household and he wanted her to have a special duckie ... later on I added her name to the front of the duck.
I find a certain amount of joy in knitting up toys and putting all the final touches on them. One of my favorite toys book is Knitted Toys by Fiona McTague. I have made the dolls and I will make more from the book in due time.




















I used Dale of Norway- Baby Ull on this duckie and with Treasure Island closing I have to settle for another type of stuffing that wasn't fun to work with. I was on a time constraint so I couldn't order in some special stuffing.

Sorry for the short post today...I have to swatch for my mom's cardigan.

Next time .... Rhinebeck Recap.

A Summer top...Just a little late

So I finally finsihed it... just a little late. Here is the summer tank top from the Sexy Knits Book that was released this summer. I had started this in late June for a co worker Denise. She loved the pattern and asked me to put it together.

Something that could have been done in a month or so took me three
Something that I could have done on circular needles, I did on straights
And this Summer tank top 2006 will be worn Spring 2007.... Oh well

After Denise understood that I would not have the top ready for the end of the summer she was happy when I was finally done when it was handed over to her.

I was so happy to finally see it put together and looking like a top. Its the first adult top that I have put together that worked. It looks like something wearable, and pretty.


The ruffle edge was the hardest part, and the most tiring thing to do. I was up putting it together until 3 in the morning finishing that edge and then casting off those 400+ stitches. Cascade Fixation was a lot easier to work with than I thought even with the elastic in it. And completed piece is a little heavier than I had imagined, but most important thing to me was that IT FIT PERFECTLY !!!

Here is the pretty Denise modeling the tank top for me and it fit her perfectly. I was so worried since the top has a stretch to it.

And the back looks good too.

I am so proud of me ...

Have Knit Out ...will frolic

Today was the KNIT & CROCHET OUT 2006 here in NYC at Union Square Park. As many know this is the major knitting event here in this wonderful city and it is attended by hundreds of people. Last year I couldn't attend but I made a point of making sure I had the day off and no other plans.
Nancy and I met early this morning along with her oldest son/my godson Avery. He has learned to knit and is working on his own Harry Potter scarf. ( the first one I made him mysterouly disappeared at school)
We made sure that we got to the park about 20 minutes early to score some goodies and to see what booths were there this year. All the retail businesses from the city were there as well as the major stores like Michaels, AC Moore and of course people from LionBrand, Clover and Bernat.
Most were giving out patterns and magazines and yes I waited 40 minutes on the Clover line for free needles. The line was ridiculous and the Clover guys ( no women ) were too pushy but for some free bamboos we wait.

The Yarn Harlot herself, Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee was there this year and she was roaming all over the place and she was one of the mc's at the fashion show. She was hilarious especially as she tried to sound happy about all the crocheted items.
She squeezed into a booth to take a picture of Amy Singer of Knitty fame.
She was there signing any of her books and talking what she talks best.

Today was HOT ... I got a darker tan today than I did when I was in Florida last month. So about 2 we were done, the heat was too much and we had hit all the booths and it was time for lunch. Nancy's co-worker Tisha and her son Aaron had joined us by that time and we took a leisurely walk to UNOS.

The crowds were diverse and they were all having lots of fun.


Avery here was melting from the heat but he patiently waiting on line with me for his mom's needles, she has trained him well.


Some of the best booths at the event were charity related. Warm-Up America was collecting squares and both Save the Children and Knit for Kids were there giving out important about their organizations. Please take a few minutes to look up these groups, we all have extra yarn that would be perfect for these charities. There are not asking for major projects but they are asking for just at bit of your time. They have action kits and additional information which will guide you all to how to donate your knitted and crocheted items.

I finally got my Knit Picks yarn for my moms cardigan and I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the Summer Tank Top. Of course pictures will come soon.

Have a great week!!!

THANK YOU KATRINA !!!

OH WHAT A SURPRISE !!!

Today I received one of the sweetest and most generous gifts I have ever received. I had a package waiting for me at my door from the lovely Katrina.

Katrina was my spoilee from the One Skein Secret Buddy exchange, the one I was spoiling in Oregon. She has a beautiful family and does some great handknit pieces. I don't know how she finds the time to do all that she does.
So I was so surprised to get a package with two of my favorite things:
a Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino book which I don't have and two skeins of Baby Cashmerino yarn in the coolest purple color. Its not too bright but perfect for me and I know exactly what I am going to make myself and the sweetest thank you note.

She didn't have to do this for me ( she had her own secret buddy to spoil ) ... but I am so grateful and overwhelmed by her kindness.
I practically skipped to the train station as I was going to my knitting group. I told everyone about her gift and they were all so jealous.
We share a love for all that is Debbie Bliss and of course the color purple.

Thank you so much Katrina for your appreciation and friendship... I am so lucky


I tried to make the color stand out against the orange towel, I should have waited for daylight but I wanted to blog about this immediately when I got home today.

This weekend is the Knit Out at Union Square park ... hope to see some of you there. It should be packed but that is part of the fun...3000 obsessive knitters.

I picked up the summer tank top again, I did no knitting while in Florida and I am feeling so guilty since the summer is almost gone here in NYC.
The lesson has been learned, I need to plan things out better before committing to them.

Sickie in Orlando

So I travel 1000 miles to come down to Florida to visit my family...my brother Abraham, my sister in law Vilma and their kids....and their kids kids and guess what happens to me ....
I get sick....a horrible head cold and cough that lasted me for almost three days. I hate that in and out of air conditioning and it didn't help that I got caught in the rain while in the pool and I had to run into the cold house.

I spent three days sleeping and trying to breathe in between cups of tea and nyquil. My mom enjoyed taking care of me but I am on vacation...so it really sucked.
I couldn't spend more time with my niece Nina and her two beautiful boys because I did not want to get them all germy.... I know that bummed my niece's plans.

By Friday I actually was able to breathe out of my own nose and my ears unclogged and I ventured out of the house. My sister in law Vilma took pity on my and took me to Downtown Disney. We had dinner at the Rainforest Cafe and then just walked around for a bit.
I have done the Disney and Universal thing too many times but at least I got to go out for a bit.

My mom and sister in law have an amazing relationship... its the ideal and sometimes surreal. They get along, they bicker, they laugh and have a great time together. My mom adores Vilma like she was her own and Vilma loves my mom so much. ( my brother and sister in law were set up by our mothers over 30 years ago)


This is the hunky man in my bed all week... Ladies his name is Chico....single no kids and has his own pad ...or should I say wicker basket...
He is so happy when he sees me, loves me to pet him and feed him and loves to cuddle...Go figure the man of my dreams is four legged.


This is my hunky nephew Abraham...or Abe .... He has started his first year of college and he manages to work and take a full load of classes. Abe was my partner all week if I wanted to do anything...like buy him a very expensive calculator at Circuit City or dinner or a movie. He is a smart and funny young man so I don't mind helping him out if I can.



I wished I had the energy this week to do something else than sleep and veg.. but maybe that is just what I needed.

Hope everyone had a good week...

Finally some knitting stuff

I finally have the opportunity to sit down and do some blogging .... yes I know that it has been a long time since I have actually did a knitting entry.

Last month I went to Lakeland which is near Tampa and about an hour from Orlando. I went to visit my other best friend ...Frances, but more about her later.

The one thing that Frances had to do for me was to take me to the nearest yarn/knitting stores. Frances is not a knitter but she did to me this favor. We found a fantastic store in Tampa called Knit 'n' Knibble.
A great store in which I could have spent a couple of hours and then have her pick me up later. The store has plenty of class space and a cafe in the back. I asked the owner if I could take these pics to show everyone. I was able to buy the Magic Loop book and a few needles while there.
The staff was so friendly and they even tried to help me find a pattern for a cardigan for my mom.



The other store which I went to was one called the Yarn Basket in Winter Haven. This store is still suck in 1974 and the only modern thing in the place was the LionBrand ( which I have no problem with) and the Clover needles. The pattern book in which I found the pattern for the cardigan was from 1972. So if you are looking for patterns for cozy and granny square blankets thats is where you should go. I only spent about 15 minutes in the place... that should tell you how dated the place was.


This is Frances.... and Goldie her new Golden Retriever.
Frances and I were next door neighbors and we have been friends for as long as I have known Nancy. We did our first holy communion together and we have been tight ever since. Her family moved to Miami when she was a teen and we never lost contact. I have followed Frances to Florida, Maryland, California and back to Florida.
She has a beautiful family and a loving ( and hunky) husband who adores her. So I make the effort to go visit at least once a year and do the mommy thing.
This visit Frances and her husband took me to Cocoa Beach to the Ron John Surf Resort.
The place is a great resort near Cape Canaveral ... not one sighting of Major Nelson or Jeannie anywhere. The beach was amazing but I will spare you all the pictures of me on the beach.


So Im in Orlando this time visiting my brother and his family. My mom is with me and I finally got to meet my niece Nina's second son Jordon and my niece Connie surprised my mom by driving up from Naples and I finally got to see her daughter Aliyah.

Shame my nieces and nephew have kids before me...( tick tick tick goes the clock)

So after this blog entry.. I will be watching these ... I totally hooked on the Gilmore Girls now.

And hopefully by the end of the week I will almost finish this: The summer tank top. ( crossing the fingers )



Soon I will be starting a cardigan for mom and a ducky for a friend....Finally some really knitting.

Have a great week.

WHERE IS MY TYPEWRITER !!!!

Yeah I said it... TYPEWRITER

Remember those simple days when you sat at your desk, took out your notes, poured a cup of soda or iced tea and you sat at your desk and you carefully put in your first sheet of crisp 8" x 1" paper in your typewriter. I can't even remember the name of my lovely cream electric machine. My mom bought it for me before I finished junior high school and it was wonderful. My mom knew that I needed it for school and that I would take great care of it. So many papers and reports were typed on that machine and it even served other members of my family well.

So why do I miss my old typewriter?

Because I have had a hellish time getting my router to work. Not like a day of problems but three long days of trying to get my desktop to communicate with my router. Nothing has worked, not hours on the phone with customer service, not me bitching on the phone with Nancy and not me buying new ethernet cords. So do I return the router, do I call friends to help, do I go buy a wireless router or do I break down and call Geek Squad.

I go to my mom's for dinner
I enjoy a bowl of ice cream
I download some cd's into my Ipod
I somehow connect this laptop to some wireless network (don't tell anyone)

And I unplugged the router ( evil thing )

I am frustrated.

This is what I get for just wanting to have a simple laptop that I can use for DVD's in bed, download pics for email or just do some blogging from bed.

So if anyone has any suggestions let me know before I make router stew.

Oh yeah... I have got some knitting done too ... I had to destress somehow.

I'm back

Hello everyone.

This will be a short post. I have so much to do and I have been having a hellish time getting my wireless system up in my apartment. Thats what I get for trying to be current by buying a laptop. Poor Nancy has been dealing with all my computer issues... she is about to disown me soon. Back I go to my old typewriter.

So sorry that it has taken me so long to blog since I came back from Florida but work has been busy and I have been using all my spare time to work on my one skein project and the tank top as well. I have the late summer knitting blues and I have to fight myself to pick up the needles.
Florida was lovely and hot... I was able to go to two knitting stores which I will blog about soon, forgive me for my tardiness

Hope everyone is having a great summer.

Finally ..

If no one has noticed ....

The past couple of days have been impossible to believe here in NYC. The 101+ degrees have been unbearible and for those of us who HATE such weather it has been horrible. My poor mami has been home for the past 4 days, but I didn't want her out in that weather at her age.

Finally today the weather has broken and things are better but still warm but the humidity is down.
And after all this heat I am heading to Lakeland, Florida on Sunday.
Everyone knows that I have known Nancy for over 25 years, but in Florida lives Frances and her beautiful family and I have also known her for over 25 years. We were next door neighbors and we actually met when we did our Holy Communion. Frances is married to a hunky man and has three handsome boys and a beautiful little girl. So on Sunday I am flying to Tampa and spending the week down there floating in her pool...lol

I still have that sexy tank top on the needles and stupid me I should have down the project in the round. The front has a lot of shaping for the bust and I thought it would be hard in the round but I was wrong, I could have done it that way. So the piece will go to Florida with me and I want to have it done by the mid of the month... it is a summer top.

This is Carmen... I made her the striped bikini for the Gay Pride Parade in June. I hounded her for picture and she finally brought it to work. I didn't make her put on the bottom in front of the staff but she did put on the top.
I do see where I could have adjusted the some areas on the top piece but I had to do it quickly. She was happy with it and the colors look great on her.


I hope that everyone is having a great summer.

See you all when I get back from Florida...

Adios

Updates...

So have been a bad bad blogger as of late, I guess the blogger blues have set in. Also the horrible heat and humidity here in NYC have not helped any. I had no desire to sit in front of my computer even for 5 minutes to check my email. Today is much better, the amazing thunder storms this evening have cooled things off and the lovely breeze is making me very happy.

I have even started two new projects:

The first is the sexy tank top which I mentioned in my last entry. I had to order Cascade Fixation for the project which was harder than you could imagine. Yarn Market and Patternworks did not have enough of this particular color. I had to get 6 skeins of number 9946 - Easter for the top. So after doing a web search I discovered a great site and my new favorite web store. Its called Angelika's Yarn Store and it is based in Lakeside Oregon. I called the store on Saturday afternoon, I got in touch with the owner, she had my order out that afternoon and it was in my greedy little hands by Monday afternoon. I had also ordered some Lornas Laces and it was all there in less than two days.


The second project is for my ONESKEIN secret buddy. I have decided to start the project early and it most likely will go with me to Florida next month. I am making the cabled booties for her. She lives in Oregon and she will need to keep her tooties warm. I chose my favorite Lornas Laces color and its my first real cable project. I aim for them to be perfect ... cross my toes and fingers.


So I am going to start the tank this weekend and the booties will be my travel and work project.

How is everyone doing on planning all their holiday gift?

Hello Everyone...

It has been more than a week since I have blogged... I am so sorry. My computer has not been behaving lately and to top it off, I have not been really working on much this week.

I have finally become inspired to work on a summer dress for a little girl plus planning my next two projects. One of the projects might be from this book ... Sexy Little Knits by Ashley Paige. I got an advance reading copy at work and since there is no way in hell I can fit into any of the projects in this book unless I don't eat for a year, I didn't think I would be using the book. One of the lovely girls at work wants a very cute rib and st st tank top from the book. It is made with Cascade Yarns - Fixation and it has come shaping to it. I would love to make it and it might lead some hired knit work.

So yesterday after spending the day with my friend Mark going to see Superman Returns, having dinner downtown on MacDougal Street, we headed to Brooklyn... Yeah I said Brooklyn.
I have no issues with going to Bklyn except that I really don't know it well and I need extremely detailed directions once there. We headed to Bergen Street to a bar called Vegas for a meet up with some of his friends. I was hesitant at first since I didn't know anyone but I trust Mark with my life and I know that he wouldn't take me anywhere weird. We finally ended up playing double pool games with some cool people, too many beers and having a good time.

So after three trains to get home ( I hate the mta during the weekends ) I came home to find my One Skein Package stuffed in my mailbox. It was the perfect end to a cool day.

Its like my Secret Buddy knows me.... HOW DID YOU KNOW I LOVE LOVE LOVE LORNA'S LACES YARN.
It is called Irving Park and it has orange, purple, fuschia and blues. Its shepard worsted 100% superwash wool, 225 yds. The colors are so pretty and some of my favorites.

Thank you so much ... Secret Buddy !!! ..... You rock.

I hope that everyone else is getting the great goodies like me... Don't be jealous.

Have a great week... smooches

Thank you Secret Buddy

Thank you One Skein Secret Buddy. I received your package yesterday, well actually it arrived on Monday but it was at my neighbors apt and since I got home really late I had to wait to yesterday to get it.

I LOVE IT... How did you know I love Frida Kahlo. Schaefer Yarns are great and I now have 400 lovely yards to whatever I want for ME! ..... Im drooling.. the colors are amazing.



Thank you for the lovely note and I hope that all is well with your family. Have you been spoiled by your secret buddy yet?

Once again... thank you so much.

On the day in 1969

Does everyone know what day is it today?

In 1939, the final seen in Gone With the Wind was shot ( did you know it was supposed to be "frankly my dear, I don't care !")

In 1958, Truman ordered troops into Korea

In 1975, Sonny and Cher got divorced.

And for all you Tom Cruise fans, Days of Thunder was release in 1990, but the most important thing was this :

On June 27th of the year 1969 ... Nancy was born.

Nancy and I have been friends ever since Mr. Poloso sat us next to each other in the 6th grade, he had no clue what he was doing - 25 years and counting.

And if I know Nancy ... I know that someday she wouldn't mind having a gala in her honor here.

The Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Or have a private viewing of this amazing exhibit ... her alone with all these Egyptian goodies.

Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh

And if she really really pressed the issue, and if I could fit into that cat suit and sneak into the joint ( yeah right )... she would kill for this sculpture by Rodin.

But instead my friend Nancy will have to be happy with some goodies that I got her, and my undying love and adoration.

She is a beautiful woman

An amazing partner to her husband and an amazing mother.

In the good and the bad times she was a good daughter who grew into good friend to her mother in time of need. A daughter who had an great relationship with her Daddy.

The friend who knows all my secrets and still still lets me into her house.

The only one who understands the importance of chocolate babka, raisin cake, and a great pot of coffee during all those moments of spiritual unrest.

And the one who will be there when the days are long and hard or there to answer the phone when I call asking :

"YO " do you wanna go to a Crue concert next month? Who cares that will be 52 years old at the time.

Happy Birthday Nan! ... Haven't we come a long long way!

Finally ... the bikini is here

This has been the hardest blog entry since I began blogging. It seems that my computer and Blooger are having issues with eachother. Every time I tried to upload some pictures my computer was not happy and it would just stop and freeze up. Let me just say that my computer is a little older and I am looking into getting a new one ( but I have not broken the news to my machine.. but I think it senses something)

I have been working on a bikini for a co-worker for the past month, it was a "let me see if I could do this project" - project. The interesting thing about this bikini was more the fact that it would not be one solid color but six and in even stripes, it was to be the colors of the rainbow to be worn at todays Gay Pride Parade. I used the pattern from the great new book "Greetings from the Knit Cafe" and the yarn was Palette from Knit Picks. The hardest part was finding the true colors of the rainbow ... bright and vibrant. This yarn eventhough it is 100% wool, it matched the gauge and colors. So I told the young lady at work that this bikini is just for show, not to go a pool or beach water. She understood and was happy with the end results. The top did give me some problems when I realize I miscounted a whole 13 stitiches and I had to unravel the left boob, and I was not thrilled with casting on 380 stitiches at six rows each for the ties but I did it ( that was 6840 stitches on number 1's)

I don't think that I would ever make this bikini again with this yarn, the pattern was for a lycra blended yarn, but it was interesting to put together.

Yesterday was great SPIN OUT ! Now it was supposed to be held in Central Park but the pouring rain through a wrench into those plans. After much debating and some last minute luck the event was held at a recreation center on the East Side. Cara the organizer of the event is a great knitter and a spinner.

Here is Nancy taking a spin at the wheel. She wants one badly but she's not sure which is the best to get for a beginner. Ann was letting her play with her wheel for a bit and then Nancy and I tried spinning yarn from a drop spindle. Let me say that using a drop spindle is not for me.
It was amazing to see so many people spinning and knitting ... all ages helping each other and just having a great time.

This week I was on vacation, I did not have any plans except a few movies and the museum, but I ended up being sick most of the week with a horrible head cold and a nasty cough. I had no desire to knit and all I wanted to do was sleep. Guess my body was exhausted from running around my bookstore and it need to crash. Doesn't it was seem that when you have no plans your week always flies by. But I do have a commitment to finish a baby sweater and a hat or two for the Dulaan Project.
These projects didn't take much time and they used up some stash which I have no plans for. I love the fact that my simple items can help some needy kids so far away from me.

So its back to work tomorrow and my knitting group meets on Tuesday evening at my store. Hopefully some of the members of my group have a few knitted objects for me to send out to Arizona for the project.

Guess who I met today ?

Today was one of those days when a knitter goes ...Oh my GOD ! That's Debbie Bliss.

At Seaport Yarns this morning I had the pleasure of meeting two of my favorite knitting gurus....Debbie Bliss and Nicky Epstein. Debbie Bliss was in the US for a few trade shows and then she was going to several stores in NYC and NJ before heading back to London. It seems that she and Andrea - the owner of Seaport Yarns have become friends over the years and she had this morning to come by the shop. Me like the geek that I am got up bright and early eventhough I got home late from my store last night and headed to Fulton Street downtown. I was the first one there, it was only from 9:30 to 1pm.
I must say that she is the loveliest person and so grateful to hear feedback and talk to those people who spend time with her books, yarns and designs. While helping her uppack some of the knitted pieces from her suitcases, Ms. Bliss was hilarious and showing me the new cashmere yarns and the proofs of her new book Simply Baby which was supposed to be at the event but instead was stuck in customs. The book is going to be beautiful and the projects are so adorable. There were so many finished items to try on and this most amazing jacket that starts out with five stitches and is almost like a spider web.

So about half and hour later Nicky Epstein walked in. She and Debbie have been friends for years and they immediately started chatting away. I love her Over the Edge and Knitted Flowers book.
We were treated a discusssion on how she goes by designing her lines and the whole process from stetches to book. She has a unending deadline and there a lot more to come for us who love her books.


After I got one of my books signed, I decided to head down to the Seaport and hang out and do some knitting. Today's weather was lovely and the tourist were out in full force. I didn't realize at first that the bench I chose to sit on and have my lunch was the most popular one there, or at least the area of the Seaport. It hit me a second later... dah .. you are facing this :


The Brooklyn Bridge

So...I have been working an this bikini for over two weeks, and its due next week. Then I realize today that one of the cups of the bra is smaller than the other. Somehow I miscounted and I had to take the who cup apart. I cannot look at it today again, but it will be my buddy for the next couple of days. I will work on adding the elastic to the bottom for a bit tonight and finish that part at least.

I hope that everyone who lives in NYC and is free on 6/24/06 can come the the SPIN OUT in Central Park that day. It should be great day and a lot of fun. I will be tagging along with Nancy that day and I finally get to meet Cara.

The Bronx is up and the Battery's down.

So this past week our friends from Iceland came to visit our fantastic city. They arrived late Saturday night and left way too fast. On Sunday there was a BBQ at Nancy's house. We had a great time, with the great food and the nice weather. It was great seeing Ingileif and Linda again so soon and Asthildur- the cutiest 9 month old in Iceland.
On Monday I made dinner for our travellers. I had promised them a true Puerto Rican dinner. Using Nancy's kitchen and some cooking goodies the we use, I made arroz blanco, pollo guisado con papas, ensalda con aguacate y habicuelas rositas (translation ... white rice, stewed chicken with potatoes, salad with avocado and pink beans). There was a lot of food and it was a big hit. I really don't have the chance to cook big meals like that. I love too cook for friends and make a big presentation when I have the chance.



On Tuesday I met up with the ladies for some more sightseeing around the city. Linda really wanted to see the
Statue of Liberty and I could not let her leave our fair city without at least going by it. So we took the train down to the South Ferry station and there you can catch the Staten Island Ferry ( for free) and it goes right by the Statue of Liberty and then you land on Staten Island. Many tourist do this ever since 9/11 and the ferry runs all times a day. It was great seeing Linda's face when the ferry was going by Lady Liberty.

I was able to get some pictures of the beautiful family together on the ferry and on the Subway. Asthildur had everyone on the train totally in love with her, she made friends everywhere she went. If anyone goes into Toys r Us this week and notices the empty shelves, well that was because Ingileif and Linda bought it out and took it all back to Iceland with them. We had a great dinner at Planet Hollywood and then I left the exhausted ladies to go back to their hotel to pack and get some rest.

They arrived home safely and I think they have finally caught up on their sleep. It was great seeing them again and taking them around.

As for my knitting.... well I have to make some serious progress on the PRIDE bikini this week. The bottom is almost there and the top wont take too long. I just have had no time to work on it at all, and since there are so many colors involved I cannot carry it around in my bag.

Hope everyone is doing better on their projects.

No knitting today

Hello all.

Sorry to say that there has been no knitting today.
"No knitting...but why...what's wrong ? "

Simple... I am so tired !!!

The past week has been hectic at work and it started off with having to work on Memorial Day while everyone else was at the park or at some bbq. Being yelled at by nasty customers who wanted to spend there entire day making a mess in my store. GO OUT TO THE PARK .. SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOUR KIDS OUTSIDE.

Then there was the overflowing sinks in my kitchen for two days and having to bail out the water into a bucket and dumping it into the toilet. Finally the cause was found. My downstairs neighbor had her washing machine on for two damn days, not realizing that the water was backing up into the pipes and onto my kitchen floor.

So I was late for work, on the day of a major book signing of over 150 people and then all this rain. So my head hurts, my arms are sore from hauling buckets of water and to top it off, every screaming kid on the Upper East Side was at my register today at work.

So am I am bitter.. and venting to you all and I am heading straight to bed because I have to get up early tomorrow again.

So no knitting today, it has been in my bag all day... I looked at it and smiled but even the pleasure of the knit and purl couldn't help me today.

Take me out to the ball game

Hello Everyone ! I tried doing this post yesterday but my computer was not having it all, I think its giving me the hint...time for a new one.

Eventhough I have been working on many projects this week, I do not have any pictures yet to show anyone. So I decided to show these wonderful pictures of my outing to Yankee Stadium on Friday night. My nephew Abraham is visiting from Orlando and he wanted to go see a game. He grew up here in NYC but then his dad moved to Florida. So being the great titi I am, I got last minute seats for him, my mami and me.


Its not like I have to travel miles and miles to get to the Stadium, I go by it everyday on the subway. I grew up three blocks from the Stadium and some of my most cherished childhood memeories are playing around the stadium and once in awhile catching a glimpse of a player before they headed in.
I was able to get this shot of Derek Jeter just before he hit his 2000th hit and then his 2001 hit. It was great that he was able to do it at home and of course he got a standing ovation.
I am a diehard Yankees fan ... good or bad

Here is my hunky nephew Abraham. He's 19 now, a hard working college student...ladies you should see his eyes. It gave my mami some time with her grandson...of course as she munched on Cracker Jacks and watched the game.

Eventhough it stayed sunny most of the day, the skies opened up at the bottom of the 8th inning and there was no way we could stay. The umbrellas were no use at all. I was soaked and it was hilarious seeing my mom running in the rain like a young 50 year old (she's 76).

All in all a great time.

Solo in the City

Today was a beautiful day in NYC. One of those Spring days that we yearn for after all the snow and cold weather. Not even having to deal with waiting for buses or slow local train could make it bad.
But the one dangerous thing about being single in the city is not having someone to say
"Back away from the yarn Maribel, put it back ... for Heaven's sake have some self control!"

I decided to go check out the new store KnittyCity on the Upper West Side today. The store has become very popular in a short amount of time, and the word of mouth has been good. It is a lovely place and when I walked in there was a class going on in the back room, and a mother and daughter taking lessons at one of the tables.
What pleased me the most was that they do have a large variety of yarns, they even carry some Lion Brand and a large selection of Cascade 220 in some great colors.
I ended up walking out with some Freedom cotton denim for a messenger tote bag I want to make from the Greetings from the Knitting Cafe book.
And for those of you who have to sneak your yarn into your homes, you might want to bring a bag with you, KnittyCity has clear bags ... so everyone can see your haul.


I finally finished the Baby Cardigan and goodies that I started a few months ago. The baby for who this gift is meant was born almost two months ago, but since I made this set in a 24 months size, it will be some time before she wears it.
The sweater was made from the Special Knits for Baby by Debbie Bliss and the booties are also from Ms. Bliss but from her Quick Baby Knits book. I love some of her patterns and nothing could be better against your hands but her baby cashmerino yarn.

The beret was from the Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns.
I totally fell in love with the beret when I finished it, not a mistake or twisted stitch anywhere.
Damn I'm good!

For my OneSkein secret pal

HEY THERE SECRET BUDDY !

Here are the answers to your questions.

I am required to send you these questions.....however I have one of my own....are you really allergic to wool? the thought of that makes me tear up.....
I am not allergic to wool ( I really don’t think I am ) but I have noticed that some of the chemicals they put on the superwash wools bother me. I really haven't made too much for myself in wool, and the item I did does make me itch a little but I still wear the scarf....heck its Lorna's Laces yarn .. wouldn’t you !

1. Which yarn is most like your personality (you can be specific or general with your answer- brand, type, color, fiber, whatever)?

There are so many yarns I love, how can I answer this question. I prefer soft yarns, the kind that you want to molest in the yarn store. Silky but not shiny( those metallic ones..yuk) One of my favorites for baby stuff is Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino .. I love the feel of it. Karabella yarns are lovely, things like that ... cushy and mushy I call them...LOL

2. What is your favorite color yarn to knit/crochet with?
I try to match the colors with the person I am knitting for. I don’t do too bright day glow colors, but for kids knitting I try to go for brighter colors. For myself I am a major earth tone kind of girl and deep purples and reds.

3. Have you ever used variegated, or magic, yarns?
I have used variegated yarns, magic yarns for socks, and variegated yarns for a few scarves.

4. Do you tend to favor certain fibers when choosing yarns?
I am not against some softer acrylics for machine wash items, there are some better quality blends these days. I use wools, cotton and some alpaca. It all depends on the project, but my mom has learned not to buy me any cheap yarns at flea markets unless I am there.

5. Do you prefer to work with center-pull or traditionally wound balls of yarn?
Doesn’t make a difference to me but if I buy a hank of anything then I like it to be center pull when it gets balled up.

6. Have you ever worked with organic yarns or are you interested in trying them?
I would not mind using them at all.

7. How many and what projects have you made in the last year?
In the past 12 months I have made countless socks ( slipper socks for gifts) scarves, shrugs, a doll, too many hats, and some baby dresses.

8. Will you be knitting any gifts this year?
Of course, I am hoping to get some some guilt off my back and use a lot of the yarn I have spent my money on to make a lot of holiday gifts this year. Also some baby shower and birthday gifts.

9. What is your favorite one skein project?
I like the cable scarf and the felted items.

10. How much yarn do you have in your stash and how do you store it?
I am too scared to count how many pieces I have, but it has too be at least over 200+ skeins, there goes that yarn budget.

11. Do you have a yarn in your stash that you love so much you can never use it or part with it?
Not at the moment. I have to stop being so co-dependant with my stash.

12. Do you knit less or differently in the summer?
No, I do a lot of knitting at work on break or before my shift, in the lovely air conditioned space. I sit in parks after work to relax. I try not too to too much in white outside as to not to get it dirty, I am a walking klutz and I will drop it in the first puddle I come across.

13. Do you belong to any knitting groups (online or offline)?
I do belong to one knitting group that meets monthly but I am not adverse to joining another one but my schedule is tough sometimes.

14. Pal, please confirm for me your mailing address (some East Coast zip codes may have lost the beginning Zero value and appear as four digits).
This I will send in the email

Hopefully these will help you .. if you have any other questions ...ask away.

Hey Abbott......I've been a BAD girl !!!

I have no self control. No will power what so ever and this time is not over a big piece of chocolate cake. Its yarn!

The Lion and the Lamb in NYC has lost their lease and they started a 50 - 70% off sale yesterday. I got there around 5 after work and before my knitting group at my store. The crowd wasn't too bad but it got bad quickly. So many customers were coming in that they had to stop them from entering since the place is too big. Besides the high end yarns and goodies they also carry an amazing collection of needlepoint goodies. Heck I spent nothing compared to the woman who spent $800+ in needlework canvases and yarns. I heard that there was a fight today, women yelling at each other. Okay people .. knitting is a civil hobby.

Here is my haul ...
Just some Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino ( my favorite for baby stuff ), Tahki - Baby, some Dale of Norway Baby Ull and some Regia sock yarn.
Oh and some Addi Turbos at 50% off too. I had only on Addi needle and I won't tell how much that one cost me at full price.

I finally finished the Baby Sweater and now I have to redo the booties. I found another pattern I love. So the gift giving will have to wait for a few days now. The baby is still a newborn, so I have some time.

The exciting news is that I got my ONE SKEIN KNITALONG buddy today. I am so excited to start this exchange. I am not sure if I am supposed to say her name on my blog as of yet. But she lives across the country, in a state that I have not been to yet. This is going to be so much fun.

HELLO THERE SECRET BUDDY !!!

GREETINGS FROM NEW YORK CITY

Finally ... some pics

So..I went to Iceland and it is amazing to see the reactions of people when you tell them that you have gone to this land far far away. Heck it was only 5 hours away. But it was beautiful and amazing. Here are some of the pictures that I took over there, some of my favorites for your viewing pleasure. Nancy was with me of course, since it was her family we went to see. Here we are on our last visit for some last minute shopping of yarn goodies. The Alafoss store is a dangerous place. We were in nirvana !!!



I loved the open road ...

This creator was amazing.. no chance of this old volcano blowing again..anyone want to go for a swim ?

Iceland's most beautiful baby ... Asthilda Emma

And her parents and our amazing hostesses...Ingleif and Linda. They were fantastic and so loving to all of us. ( I am still waiting for a certain recipe ..hint hint)

Even though this is a man made geyser.. I love the picture and the sun shining in the background.

I am still munching on the most amazing chocolate covered raisins that I got over there as I type this blog entry, trying to make them last.

The beauty of this country, the generousity of the people and its peacefulness are overwhelming.