like falling down a hill full of sharp rocks...

head on over

2011-05-29T13:36:00.002+02:00

Just noticed that I never posted about switching over to wordpress. This was a while ago.

Here's where I'm blogging these days: http://messmor.wordpress.com/

Not so much crafting but that also has to do with what I have time for. Mostly food related but these days I've added gardening to my ever-growing list of things to distract me.

Excuse the delay...

so here's what i'm thinking

2009-06-29T23:25:00.003+02:00

The plan now is to come out of hibernation.

I'd like to finish my Hexacomb Cardigan and make some more progress on the embroidery front. There are a couple of hats on my list of things to get done. There are also some projects I'd like to give a go.

I was in Canada for 3 weeks at the end of May/beginning of June. Needless to say, I came back with an assortment of goodies, including a couple balls of cotton sock yarn. In bright green too!

Another plan is to also revamp and organize the blog.

here's a quick update

2009-06-29T23:12:00.003+02:00

It has been a while. Last entry was written in March. Much has happened in the last 3-4 months.

First thing... I got hitched! Fredrik & I tied the knot a day after my 26th birthday. The date was the earliest available at the courthouse and worked for us.

Fredrik left on a 7 week tour about a week afterwards.

So I kept myself busy with school and work.

There's been a few small projects. Mostly involving embroidery.

It started with a card for Fredrik. Then it evolved into thank you cards for Fredrik's family who came to our wedding.

Then I expanded on to pins...

I made a series of pin sets. More cards. If you're interested, they're available at my Etsy store (http://deathbydesign.etsy.com).

something i've always wanted to try

2009-03-24T14:02:00.002+01:00

I watched an episode of Martha Stewart Living years ago about shadow boxes and I've always wanted to make at least one. Well I decided that I would make Fredrik a shadow box, a gift (for the wedding?).
Making a shadow box lead to making felted finger puppets. I worked into the night, picked up this morning and finished shortly before noon.

Here it is...

hair sticks & my first instructable

2009-03-24T11:51:00.003+01:00

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make_your_own_hair_sticks/

I wanted some nice hair sticks for the wedding (did I mention I'm getting married next week?). Since I couldn't find any I liked, I did what any crafter would do. I made my own.

M.I.A.

2009-02-16T09:38:00.002+01:00

I know I've been M.I.A. but I have very good reasons to be missing for so long.

School started.
I got a part time job working at Taylors and Jones.
Denise was here last week for a visit and Close-Up Båten.

I have been a mess as of late and frankly I need to get myself organized again so I won't end up with another D in school. I'm already behind on 2 assignments. :(

So far the only thing I've had a chance to do is pull out my hexacomb cardigan. Remember that? Yes, I have yet to finish it. Maybe I can finish it this year. We'll see.

I promise that I will blog about whatever creativity that strikes me as soon as I have the time for it.

Until then, wish me luck!

2009-01-04T12:48:00.002+01:00

photo: Kristin Goedert

I was just browsing through Knitty's patterns for winter 2008 and saw these. They are just too adorable. It's a shame that I'm sensitive to wool, otherwise I'd be making them PRONTO.

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter08/PATToomingmacks.php

more calendars

2009-01-04T12:35:00.003+01:00

I was itching for my paints for the whole time I was in Germany.

Denise suggested that I sell my calendars. I might depending on how long my painting craving lasts. Noel already wants a calendar.

Here's the art from the second calendar (I painted on proper watercolour paper this time.):

let us continue

2008-12-30T14:20:00.003+01:00

I seriously hate the post editor Blogger has. It's a damn pain in the ass trying to arrange photos. I was tempted to throw my laptop across the room trying to arrange the pictures in the previous post.

Anyways.

I have the last 6 months painted but the pictures are still on my camera and I don't have the cable with me at the present moment.

I actually decided to paint a calendar for my mom. This time using proper water colour paper. It was a bit thick to make a booklet like thing for the calendar bit so I'm gluing the paintings on a calendar booklet made out of regular printer paper. I've finished the paintings from January to August.

been busy but now there is time

2008-12-30T14:02:00.004+01:00

With school and Yule, it's been a busy month.

I finally got some time and some will to do something creative. I've been painting like a mad man in the last couple of days. Fredrik was in Germany and I was feeling especially anti social.

This attempt to do some painting didn't get Ull's attention like last time. He tried to eat my brush, drink the brush water and lick the water colour blocks. Guess having Milo around distracted him from what I might be up to.

Anyways.

I saw this really nice and cute calendar by a Swedish artist, Sara Elgeholm at the sci-fi book store in Gamla Stan. I wanted to buy it but then I thought, why not make my own.

So I pulled out my water colours and folded some A4 paper to assemble my own calendar.

Obviously it was not the greatest idea to use water colour on regular paper.

Here are the first 6 months:

OMG

2008-10-06T22:08:00.003+02:00

It's finally finished. The Good Stripe Dress is finally completed. I started knitting it in June.

All the loose ends have been woven in; it's been washed and blocked. Now I just have send it off to my cousin.

I was ready to tear my hair out towards the end.

front

back

gosh darn it!

2008-10-02T21:06:00.003+02:00

I'll finish this dress even if it kills me!!
The past month has been a bit hectic and a total mood dive bomb. I haven't wanted to do anything creative. But the obligation of getting this dress done before Natalie gets too big for it is making me knit. It's not a entirely bad thing.
I'm on the last stripe of colour. Just 23 rounds left. Then there's the colour and armhole bits.

not all is lost

2008-09-09T18:04:00.002+02:00

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention in my earlier post that I did accomplish something while I was in Canada. I finished my cat quilt. It's currently keeping Ull cozy while he sleeps.

lazy lazy lazy

2008-09-09T15:20:00.002+02:00

I know I'm supposed to have things done during my time in Canada but it was just not happening. There were so many people to see and so many things to do.

My hexacomb cardigan is back in hibernation.

The priority at the present moment is the good stripe dress for my cousin. She will grow and I not so much.

I tried out what I had accomplished on her when I saw her in Canada. Fits quite nicely. I tried it on her over her clothes, so she should be able to wear it at least over next summer.

After having my mom take a look at it, she suggested that I didn't make it as long as suggested in the pattern. My cousin is not a particularly tall girl and it looks better not too long.

I've started school again so I've been knitting while I commute, provided that I don't pass out from waking up so early to catch the train.

I'm hoping that I'll be able to finish it before the end of the month but like always, there are no guarentees.

out of hibernation

2008-07-19T11:06:00.002+02:00

I've taken the time to wind the second skein of black yarn needed for the cardigan. I will resume knitting as soon as I'm ready to take a break from the dress. I'll probably be continuing in Canada. It'll be perfect because I'll have my mom around to help me with any issues I might have with the finishing.

let there be flare!

2008-07-17T23:37:00.002+02:00

I managed to make it past the 23 rounds of 220 stitches. Now I'm on to 23 rounds of 276 stitches. That's only the beginning of the flare! But it's all worth it. It's looking pretty good. I think I might be able to finish it by the end of the month. I know that I'll have plenty of idle time in my journey back to Canada. So I'll be knitting away like a granny expecting quintuplets for grandchildren.

practice makes perfect

2008-07-13T20:48:00.002+02:00

Since I've got 18 rounds of just straight forward knit, I've been practising my continental knitting. At first I had a bit of a cramp in my left hand but after reviewing some instructional videos and reconfiguring what I'm doing, I seem to be doing ok. I'm obviously not knitting as quickly but I'm sure that with practice, I'll be able to knit equally fast using both hands.

164 x 26

2008-07-11T18:15:00.003+02:00

The problem with knitting something big and grand is that there are a lot of mundane parts. As exciting as even a cable may be or a colour way, it does get super boring after a while. I would take a break from the knitting but I don't want to get so distracted that I don't end up going back to the project. Maybe I'll wind up the new skein for the Hexacomb cardigan.

Speaking of winding yarn, I was thinking about getting myself a yarn winder. Buying a yarn winder would also mean I would need a swift. The combination purchase of the two does total to almost $100. Then I start wondering if I wind enough yarn to justify such a purchase. This might be gloating but I do wind a mighty good yarn by hand. I guess if I ever plan to knit myself a dress and need to wind a butt load of yarn, I'll reconsider the idea of a yarn winder and swift.

164 stitches

2008-07-10T23:30:00.002+02:00

I'm not even close to the end of the dress. I just wanted to point out that 164 stitches in a round is a lot of stitches. It may not be a lot for those of you who are more experienced with knitting but since my previous experiences only included only small items, this is a lot. I'll be making my way towards 500 stitches! That's right, the last round is a whopping 500 stitches!

At the moment I'm at the waist, soon I'll start the flare of the dress. I also found the 3rd colour for the armhole trim, placket and 1 magical stripe on the dress. It's this nice burgundy colour that compliments the other colours perfectly.

finally some time

2008-07-04T20:37:00.002+02:00

Today was the last day at the day care. For the next couple of weeks, I plan on taking it easy. I currently have no work and no school.

The dress for Natalie is coming along quite nicely. I've just finished the first bit of contrast colour. It's a fairly fine yarn so progress is slow. I've also been careful to not knit too maniacally. Taking breaks for playing with Ull and doing other things. But I am a bit sore on my right side. I'm going to start practising yoga regularly again and hopefully that will relieve some stress.

Here are a couple progress pics for the dress.

I'm also finished the body portion of the Hexacomb Cardigan. I've started on the first sleeve but I need to wind the new skein.

All that's left from the first skein.

i could not resist

2008-06-30T15:43:00.001+02:00

I stopped by Marias Garn last week after I got my pay to get more yarn for the cardigan. I also decided to pick up some yarn for the Good Stripe Dress (from Interweave Knits Spring 2008) I'm planning on knitting for my cousin Natalie.

The linen yarn they carried was a bit too fine for the gauge needed for the dress but after chatting with the lady that was working, I decided to use the cotton yarn I'm using for my Hexacomb Cardigan.

I picked a lovely pink and a dusty rose for the dress. I hope that I can finish it in time so that it would fit her still.

it can be done!

2008-06-30T15:17:00.003+02:00

I've made much progress in my Hexacomb Cardigan. I actually think I can finish this before I go back to Canada. Although I might leave the sleeve finishing for Canada because I could use the help my mom who has knitted countless amounts of sweaters.

At the present moment, I'm finished with the body. I've started on the first sleeve.

I took this picture last night before I finished the body.

Fredrik and I are staying home today even though it's his birthday so I'm knitting away like a maniac.

I'm so excited about this cardigan. I'll finally have something nice to wear with my dresses. Not to mention it's my first cardigan.

Just so you know

2008-06-23T22:16:00.001+02:00

I've been fiddling with possibly moving this blog to wordpress.com
I'm still working on the kinks and what not but I kind of prefer some of their blog entry editing options. There are still plenty of pros about blogger.com but I'm going to see if it's better with wordpress.
I'll try to keep ya updated.

the left side is complete!

2008-06-23T22:10:00.002+02:00

I've completed the left side of the cardigan. I had to rip it out once because I was unsure of the decreases and slightly unhappy with how parts of it looked. But it is DONE! I'm almost finished with the right side.

Here is the left side in all it's glory.

I still have quite a bit of yarn left. I don't think I'll be able to finish the cardigan with just 1 skein but I think I can get most of it done.

Ravelry.com

2008-06-15T18:11:00.002+02:00

I knew of this fabulous website a while back but I kind of forgot about it until I read about it in my spring issue of Interweave Knits.

So the web address is www.ravelry.com

"What is so special about this??" you might ask.

Well...

It's like a virtual notebook for your knitting and crocheting needs. I don't know about you but I live mostly on my computer and I do have a notebook that I keep information about the yarns and needles that I have but at the present moment I think that notebook is in Canada. Well that's no good to me now is it? I'm living in Sweden and it's a 10+ hour flight to Toronto to get it. Well now when I forget my notebook for knitting/crocheting, I can just log on for stuff like my list of needles and hooks.

There's also a section for "queuing" your future projects. Sometimes I see a pattern that I would like to knit/crochet as soon as I'm finished with the current one but over the time it takes me to finish the project, I've forgotten about where the pattern is from and what it looks like. Now I can keep my plans in track.

I love this site. At the present moment there's a queue to be a member of ravelry but the wait is really short. I just had to wait a couple of days for the invite.

Hexacomb Cardigan

2008-06-15T12:14:00.002+02:00

This is my first sweater. It's not a SWEATER. It's a short cardigan with half sleeves. It's the biggest project I've ever knitted so far. I'm so very proud of myself. I'll be even more proud of myself if I actually finish this.

I'm using the cotton yarn I got from Marias Garn. It's a fairly fine yarn so I'm knitting the cardigan double stranded. I've divided the ball that I wound into 2 100g balls. I'm knitting most of the cardigan while I'm on the subway on my way to work. It's quite soothing and calming to knit after 6hrs of hyper active kids.

I've got a ways to go but I'm really happy about what I've done so far.

new project

2008-06-09T22:26:00.003+02:00

I've started on a new project and it's very exciting. The combination of excitement and being tired is what prevents me from writing a decent post.

I promise I'll talk about this new project as soon as I can. I also have much to say about Ravelry.com

Marias garn

2008-06-06T10:10:00.002+02:00

Yesteryday I decided to take a stroll from Mariatorget to Slussen. There are many places in Stockholm that I have yet to explore. On St:Paulsgatan is a lovely little LYS called Marias garn (translates to Maria's yarn). They carry an assortment of their own yarns and a few brands but I don't really recall any of the big names. Unfortunately yesterday was really hot and since it's not really common to have air conditioning in Sweden, it was really really warm inside the shop. Makes sense since the walls are lined with shelves of yarn.

Anyways.

This shop is filled with an assortment of yarns made from an assortment of materials. The colour selection is fabulous and from the conversation I overheard, the staff is quite knowledgeable. They also have an assortment of already knitted pieces (sweaters and shawls and so forth) so you can touch and see the results of the yarns they have.

It kind of made me miss Lettuce Knit in Kensington back home. How I love that shop.

I couldn't resist temptations, so I bought a 200g hunk of cotton yarn. The plans are to knit some sort of tank top with it. It looks quite fabulous. Here's hoping that it will turn out as great as I imagine it.

They use paper "sandwich" bags for purchases, which I think is pretty cute.

I informed my mom of my plans to knit my cousin a dress from the Interweave Knits spring issue. She informed me that my cousin is 5 now. So now I will have to knit this dress in about 1 years time. But I think it can still be done.

I'm gonna go make myself a swatch out of the cotton I bought.

how quickly life goes into action

2008-06-03T12:05:00.002+02:00

I honestly have not had the time to do anything creative in the past 2 weeks.

You see, I got myself a job. I'm currently working at a daycare and it really drains the life out of me even if I am working part time. I started a couple weeks ago so at the present moment I'm still in the adjusting phase.

Exams have also started this week, so that takes up the remaining time I have. I did the oral exam last week and the grammar exam on Saturday. 2 more exams left and then I'm free from school until September... I think.

I've also been feeling a bit rut-ish. I would like to make something but I just don't feel very inspired. Hopefully when I'm back in Canada, I'll be able to get the Euroflax and start on the dress for my cousin.

I suppose I am not completely being uncreative because I do have to think of things for the kids to do. We have these themes for the kids to learn and currently our theme is India. It sounds like it would be loads of fun but it's hard to think of activities who aren't even allowed to paint with paint brushes!

a bit of a delay

2008-05-18T18:46:00.002+02:00

I haven't visited the yarn stores here in Sweden but it seems that I will have to wait till I'm back in Toronto to get the Louet Euroflax yarn for the dress.

Luckily one of my favourite yarn store carries it. In fact quite a few shops in Toronto carry it but I have to say that my favourite in Toronto is Lettuce Knit. The staff there are super nice and the selection is just big enough that it's not overwhelming. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Romni Wool on Queen but the shop is just WAY too big and there's so much stuff to look at that I forget what I'm looking for. Not to mention the fact that Lettuce Knit was right by my work when I worked in Toronto. It was my little sanctuary after hours of sitting in front of the computer.

2 year plan

2008-05-12T20:14:00.004+02:00

Fredrik and I were in Germany this weekend. On our way back I decided to splurge and get myself a magazine. After examining all my choices, I decided on getting the spring issue of Interweave Knits. For €10,90 I didn't want to get some magazine I would read once and then put it in the recycling. Not to mention, there were some great looking patterns in the issue.

One pattern that I plan on knitting is the "A Good Stripe Dress". I would love to make one that fits me but it's a dress made for a 6 year old. I figured that if I started now, I should finish in at least 2 years from now. Just in time for Natalie who will be 6 in a couple of years. I'm pretty sure that I'll finish the dress in 2 years.

Amigurumi

2008-05-08T12:45:00.004+02:00

I first discovered amigurumi a couple of years ago.

Yesterday I made my first in almost a year. I took a hiatus from crocheting after too much crocheting. It wasn't really a conscious decision, it sorta just happened.

I got an amigurumi booklet from Saucylouise on Etsy sometime last year. She's located in Japan.

It's a great little book. I love Japanese instructions because they're so clear and easy to follow even if you don't understand the language. They're all about using pictures to show you what you're supposed to do. My mother used to use Japanese pattern books to make clothes for me.

Ull kept stealing the body and hiding it in the bathroom. I thought he would be more interested when I finished but he hasn't really expressed and interest. Maybe it's the thrill of knowing that I need the body then and not now anymore. But like all things that belong to me and Fredrik, it now belongs to Ull and he will play with it at his leisure.

I'm not too happy about the way it turned out. The proportions look a bit strange. I think I will get some safety eyes for the next amigurumi I make.

Man I Suck...

2008-05-06T17:54:00.002+02:00

I suck at using colours. I prefer things in black and white. Black will always look nice with white.

I attempted at putting some colours together today. I decided to knit a swatch to see if the colours do work out. Well they didn't. It was so horrible that I had to stop right away and throw it out.

For those who don't believe me, here's a picture of it.

Finished Sample

2008-05-05T12:59:00.002+02:00

I finished knitting the swatch for my Space Invaders mittens. It looks pretty good. Now I just have to figure out what kind of yarn and colours I want.

Mittens from Space!

2008-05-03T12:13:00.002+02:00

I'm testing out a pattern of my own. The theme is Space Invaders. I knitted it with my Red Heart Super Saver and Bernat 100% acrylic yarn. The gauge is a bit bigger than the Lamb's Pride Super Wash. This is just a tester but if and when I do knit a pair of mittens out of these yarns, I'll make a smaller pattern with only 20 stitches instead of 24.

Here's a sampling of what it looks like.

I've also knitted up swatches with the acrylic yarns.

The first one is with Red Heart Super Saver.

Gauge: 4,5 st / inch (18 st / 4")
Needles: sz 9 (3,5mm)

This one is with Bernat 100% acrylic.

Gauge: 5 st/ inch (20 st / 4")
Needles: sz 9 (3,5mm)

humour makes things nicer

2008-05-03T11:42:00.003+02:00

This guy I knew from high school recommended this video when he found out that I knit and crochet. It's done by some students that are in his film course at Humber College. I thought it was fantastic. The knitting store that's in the video is Lettuce Knit in Kensington Market. It is as beautiful as the brief glimpses.

Anyways. Enjoy!

Learning Something New

2008-05-01T11:39:00.004+02:00

I've always knitted the traditional "throw" method. The problem with knitting with 1 method is that my right hand and arm does all the work so after a decent sized project, I've got a sore right side.

I didn't know that you can knit with your left hand until I saw Denise do it.

After knitting these mittens, I've got the itch to knit more but I'm in quite a bit of pain. So I've decided to learn how to knit with the other hand. Apparently this method is called the "continental" method.

There's a fantastic video on youtube teaching people how to knit with the continental method. Not only does the lady teach you how to knit, she also demonstrates how to purl and do ribs.

It takes a little getting used to but I'm sure with practice, it'll become easy as pie.

I would like to knit some more mittens but I think I should take a bit of a break. Maybe just swatches for the next few days.

They're done!

2008-04-30T17:15:00.002+02:00

I finished the mittens today. I must say that they turned out quite nicely. It just needs to be washed and blocked. I tried my best not to knit like a maniac but I can't say that my hands and arms are not sore. I should probably take a break but I've got new ideas for another pair of mittens.

I'll be outfitting these mittens with a flannel lining. But that will require a sewing machine. I'll do that when I go back to Canada for a visit. I want to get a sewing machine except that it's not really THAT high up on my list of priorities. Fredrik has offered a few times but we need more important things like a new vacuum cleaner and we just got a dishwasher in the last month.

Anyways. Here's what they look like.

I made some changes to Hello Yarn's pattern. I didn't think the location of the right thumb should be so far into the mitten. There's a 3 stitch difference. So I relocated the thumb. I also didn't follow the thumb chart. I knitted it so it matches the pattern of the rest of the mitten. It's also slightly shorter because I have small thumbs.

The best thing about knitting your own mittens is that you can adjust it to fit your hands. Most mittens and gloves I've purchased always has thumbs that are too big for my own. There's usually about 1/2 inch of mitten left unfilled. It then causes problems with thumb functions because there's that flappy bit of mitten.

There are some progress shots available for viewing on my flickr.

These are the 3rd pair of mittens, I've knitted.

My first pair of mittens were made from Blue Sky Alpacas' Bulky Naturals. They made my hands itchy and were unfortunately lost in NYC when I went there with Fredrik. I do believe they fell out of my pockets in the cab. My second pair were ones I knitted for Noel. It was my gift to him for his birthday. They were in this lovely bulky blue yarn flecked with other colours.

I'm also thinking about creating my own mitten pattern. I've got some great ideas. Just need to get it down on paper.

I was thinking about knitting mittens for my friends. I want to knit more mittens but don't really have use for 10 pairs of mittens. I'm sure they'd appreciate it even if they are my prototypes.

Work in Progress

2008-04-27T10:21:00.002+02:00

I am proud to say that I've started on something. I started the squirrel and oak mittens.

I've gotten past the 1x1 ribbing and about 5 rows into the chart.

At first I wasn't so sure about the colours I choose. I'm using mahogany with blueberry sorbet.

Who would've thought that brown would go well with light blue? My first encounter was at Metaleather when someone gave us an order for dog collars and leashes. One of the colour combinations was brown with baby blue.

Anyways. I'm really excited about this project.

not M.I.A.

2008-04-26T15:19:00.003+02:00

It has been a long time since I last posted. But it's also been a long time since I last made something.

Today I decided to make a swatch. I've been wanting to give Hello Yarn's Squirrel and Oak Mittens. The Lamb's Pride Superwash is perfect. I'm using 3.5mm (US size 4) needles.

I plan on lining the mittens with some flannel because I can't wear wool and for extra warmth.

Enough time writing about it, time to start!

Needle: 3.5mm
Gauge: 6 st / inch (24 st / 4")
Yarn: Lambs Pride Super Wash

nothing... so much nothing...

2008-03-25T21:36:00.003+01:00

My most sincere apologies for the lack of activities on this blog. I have simply not done very much at all. I don't really know what the matter is. I feel so bleh. :-P

I finished the secret project and mailed it off to my friends back in Canada. I hope they will be as delighted as I was when I finished it. Unfortunately I did not take any pictures because I was just in such a rush to pop them in a padded envelope and sent off.
I will reveal all secrets as soon as they receive the package.

Aside from the secret project, there has been no knitting, no crocheting, and no sewing of any sorts.

I did manage to get a storage solution towards my yarns. They no longer dwell inside cardboard boxes. I got these great plastic bins with lids from IKEA. I have even divide the yarns by content. I have 1 bin for wool, 1 for cotton and 1 for acrylic. There may be some spill over form the acrylic bin because I've got all those Bernat yarns from the knitting/crochet kits I got from No Frills.

I was thinking the other day that it's been a while since I last painted anything. But the problem is also due to the fact that I feel like I have nothing interesting to paint. I look at the most recent paintings that I did (back in autumn) and they all look like shit.

Perhaps I'm just in a rut. I'm not sure but at the present moment, I am not very productive at all.

knitting hats to pass the time

2008-02-19T22:28:00.004+01:00

We're nearly the end of construction. (^-^)

I've been looking at drop spindles lately. I would really like to learn how to spin. There are so many things I want to try. I should make a list of all the things I want/need to do. Mind you, lists to me are useless.

Anyways. I've decided that I will continue knitting kitty hats for the time being. There are some more hats available on Etsy.

I SWEAR I will knit something different after I finish the last of the hats.

Ull is LOL

2008-02-15T23:24:00.001+01:00

moar funny pictures

I love this picture of Ull. To this day he still believes in the idea that if he cannot see you, then you cannot see him.

how strange life is

2008-02-08T22:23:00.001+01:00

I realized something interesting while I was finishing another kitty hat.

For most of my life I have not ever been girl-y. As a child I was a tomboy and used to beat up the boys. I didn't like playing with dolls or wearing skirts and dresses. I'm not particularly fond of makeup and despite "being a fashion designer", I don't particularly care for keeping up with the trends. But somehow I ended up enjoying and being good at things that are most often associated with the female species.

Anyways. I was thinking about knitting up some wrist warmers after the hats. I believe that the urge to knit is back. It makes me very happy to know that the lust for creating has not totally left me.

1st knitted item of the year

2008-02-05T19:38:00.000+01:00

I started my first knitted item of 2008. Unfortunately it was not because of my own will but I'm still happy that I started. It's actually an order for a kitty hat. I'm happy that there's still a demand for it. I'm also glad that it's something to get me started on the making. It has been so depressing ever since construction on our flat started.

I've been super unmotivated because it's just too cramped and dusty to do anything. Not to mention everything is displaced and needs to be dug out. Fredrik and I are really looking forward to the end of this construction. Not only will there be no more construction, we will also have a spanking new bathroom complete with a bathtub. Hopefully it will be done by the end of next week.

2008-01-14T15:09:00.001+01:00

Fredrik is coming home today. YAY! (^-^)

I would like to say that I will be able to start my crafting the moment he steps into the flat. But unfortunately our flat is also going into chaos mode. Today people from the company that owns the building came by to change our electrical system. I spent most of the day with Ull inside our bedroom.

kitten + electricians working with wires and drills = not the best of ideas

They will start the dismantling and rebuilding of our bathroom later this week. We may have to send Ull off to a boarding home so he doesn't get scared by the loud noise or be in the way of the workers.

I should get working on the surprise that I started over the holidays. At this rate, it might turn into a 2008 Christmas present.

Random cat photo.

2008-01-05T20:06:00.000+01:00

I'm still sick. The tonsils are still hurting. If they still hurt by Monday, I'm going to the doctors. But for now, here's Ull in a small box.

lazy lazy lazy

2008-01-04T15:58:00.000+01:00

Aside from the usual business of Christmas and new years, Fredrik and I got ourselves a Nintendo Wii for Christmas. It's rather addictive.

Not to mention the fact that right after Fredrik left for Australia, I came down with something awful. I was confined to the bed for the past couple of days with fever and serious tonsil pain. But I'm getting better now.

I cleaned up the flat today 'cause I had been neglecting it for the time Fredrik was home. I finally got all the dirty laundry off the floor and vacuumed the place. Ull's been a little walking lint magnet. But he's been a total darling during my time of need for rest. He's napping right now.

I got into playing Super Paper Mario and I haven't really don't much that is productive but what the hell, I'm still sick and what else is there to do other than watch TV and play video games when you're sick? I hope to resume the crafting as soon as Fredrik gets back from Australia. I might even start next week depending on how I feel. I hope I get better soon.

secret project

2007-12-26T01:48:00.000+01:00

I hope that everyone is enjoying themselves and having a fantastic time with family and friends.

Fredrik and I made a butt load of food, all the traditional Swedish favourites.

I've begun work on a new project but for now I cannot talk about it in detail. It's a secret project. When I am done and it has been received by the proper people, I will unveil it. I think it's a pretty neat project and hopefully the recipients will enjoy it too.

shopping online

2007-12-18T23:16:00.000+01:00

I've been browsing various online yarn stores and as tempting as some of their yarns appear, I don't think I am ready for the online yarn shopping experience. I need to touch the yarn. I'm one of those people who go to a LYS, finger all the yarns (I wouldn't rub them on my neck, that's just rude.) and then walk out with a couple of skeins. It is very important for me to feel the yarn.

I used take a whole day to go fabric shopping. I would go to nearly ALL the stores on Queen St. W and end up with 1 or 2 fabric. But I would've touched almost a dozen fabrics at each store.

Maybe it's not such a bad thing to be "unable" to shop for yarn online. My stash could be much bigger (not that it's an entirely bad thing) and I could be a lot more broke (THAT however, is a not so good thing).

Ull inside my messenger bag

2007-12-18T10:45:00.001+01:00

Ull inside my messenger bag
Originally uploaded by souvenir_kattunge

Fredrik comes home on Friday. :)

My first LYS in Stockholm

2007-12-17T21:22:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I went to check out the STREET julmarknad. There were so many talented people there selling their beautiful works.

There was an outdoor bit.

Then there were more stands inside.

As you can see, there were quite a lot of people shopping. I got some sausages and cheese for Fredrik. I'm hoping that one day in the future I'll be able to have my own stand.

I checked out this LYS that was in the area, sticka & virka. It's a tiny little yarn store, probably the smallest I've ever been to. BUT don't let the size fool you. It was packed with so many lovely yarns.

There was this one yarn that I found most interesting. I don't recall the name of the yarn but I'll describe it. It's wool and comes in some rather splendid colours. However, the yarn is untwisted so it's very fragile. The lady in the store showed me this bag she made with the yarn. It was knitted then felted. It looked quite fantastic felted. I think it will also be great for beginners spinning.

I WAS going to check out Knit Lab but my friend called. We ended up going for coffee and pie.

Right now Ull sleeps on my lap while I watch Shakespeare in Love and my butt is slowly falling asleep.

Todai in Honolulu

2007-12-15T13:48:00.001+01:00

Todai in Honolulu
Originally uploaded by souvenir_kattunge

The Schmap Honalulu Guide has chosen this picture to use for their 4th edition guide. It was just a snapshot, there was no intention behind the photo but none the less, I'm happy that they chose my picture to use.

p.s.

2007-12-15T00:28:00.001+01:00

Ull sleeps with his little tongue sticking out. It is simply the cutest thing EVER! I love owning a cat!

1st project in a long while

2007-12-15T00:03:00.001+01:00

I've decided that I will start a new project when Fredrik comes back.

I've seen so many yummy sock patterns. Patterns like Eunny Jang's Bayerische Sock and Gabriella's Clessidra Stockings. I was thinking that I would give those cotton blend yarns a try. The socks that I knitted earlier this year are great and all but they're 100% wool. It was really nice soft yarn but they also made my feet really itchy. I am like Yarn Harlot's friend who simply cannot wear wool.

I've also been eyeing some mitten patterns. Hello Yarn has been knitting some REALLY nice looking mittens and have been posting pictures on her flickr. I would like to give the pattern she has in that set of photos or her Squirrel and Oak Mittens a try. With mittens, I can knit with a wool yarn but I can always line them with some nice soft fleece or flannel.

Maybe the mittens and the socks are a bit "ambitious" since I haven't knitted anything in over a month. Maybe I'll just start with something simple. Maybe I'll try Hello Yarn's Mushroom Pulse Warmers. They'll be a quick knit. These can be lined with fleece or flannel too. I would also like to try Anushka's Twisted Maiden Fingerless Gloves. These however would have to be knitted with a cotton blend yarn.

2007-12-14T11:54:00.001+01:00

THE itch

2007-12-13T19:21:00.000+01:00

As I've stated in my earlier posts, I haven't had much time to do very much beyond playing with Ull. But today I felt THE itch.

I get Interweave Press' Daily Knitting newsletter and there's been so many interesting things in it. You really can't help but to be tempted. I've also been browsing some online yarn stores for delicious looking yarns. I keep thinking that I should stop by Knit Lab in Stockholm the next time I go into the city but I keep getting distracted by the worries that Ull is home alone.

Fredrik is going to be home next Friday. I hope I will be able to get some stuff done while he's home to play with Ull. But he's gotta leave shortly after New Years for a tour in Australia. Thank goodness that's only going to last about 2 weeks. Then he's home for a few months. Aside from me being able to have some quiet time to do stuff like knit, paint, crochet and maybe even teach myself how to drop spin.

In other news, I received word about my application for a Swedish language and culture program in university. I've been accepted! So in January, I'll be studying Swedish in university instead of at SFI. I'm really looking forward to it because the program will be offering more than just learning Swedish. The downside is that the university is in another city. I'll have to commute to and from via the train. Luckily, it'll only be for 1 year. From my experiences in the past with taking the train to and from somewhere, it's perfect for catching up on that bit of knitting or crocheting.

DSC00885.JPG

2007-12-09T00:11:00.001+01:00

DSC00885.JPG
Originally uploaded by souvenir_kattunge

I haven't been doing very much lately. It's very hard to accomplish much when there's a curious kitten going, "what's this? I'm gonna eat this!" all the time. I've only been fulfilling any orders that come through on Etsy.

I attempted to practice some watercolour techniques the other day and I ended up spending most of the time trying to keep Ull from drinking the dirty water. So I think Fredrik's Christmas present will have to be done after he comes back from the US when he can distract Ull and I get a moment to do what I need to do.

After reading so much about how you should be careful about what you let your kitten play with, I'm a bit nervous to sew anything in case Ull eats a needle when I blink or look away.
But right now he sleeps so I've got a moment to sew up some charms.

sleeping kitty

2007-12-01T20:37:00.000+01:00

Random kitty photo!

No Print Gocco after all.

2007-12-01T14:15:00.000+01:00

Last night I watched a video demonstration of the Print Gocco. It kind of made my decision on getting a Print Gocco kit. I will not be getting one after all. I like how easy it is to use but there are many factors about it that make me say, "nej tack."

For example:

Flash bulbs are single use. You throw them out afterwards. I know I'm not the most eco conscious person but enough to not be too keen on the idea of chucking the bulbs after 1 use.
Screens are essentially single use. I know that there is a method of saving and reusing the screen but because the frame is made of cardboard; the screens are really not meant to be washed and reused like the traditional screens with wooden frames.
Screens being single use only, I would have to do all my prints in 1 go. Knowing my ability to stray from my projects mid way. It cannot be a good thing.
It's expensive. Unfortunately there are no European suppliers which means I have to buy it and any supplies from the internet. Most sellers are in Japan and the price of the unit and shipping is a bit much.

Despite the fact that I won't be getting a Print Gocco, it does not mean that I am giving up on my screen printing ventures. Makezine has a GREAT tutorial for easy screen printing.
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/05/learn_to_screenprint_your_1.html

There is also a tutorial for making your own screens at Instructables.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Screen-Printing%3a-Cheap%2c-Dirty%2c-and-At-Home/

I'll use the money intended for a Print Gocco kit to make myself a UV light box for exposing the screens.

I also found this tutorial for making your own "Print Faux-co."
http://www.instructables.com/id/Screen-Printing-Machine%3a-Print-Faux-co!/

Unproductive...

2007-11-30T19:30:00.000+01:00

Is an under statement. I have not done anything new since Fredrik left. Well, I suppose I cannot say that I have done absolutely nothing since Fredrik left. I have been taking care of Ull who has been a bit of a handful at times. There were a couple of Etsy orders I sent out in the past 2 weeks. But I have not made anything new.

There IS a drawing of Ull that I did as practice for something I'm planning on executing. I'm gonna give water colour another try. I know it's insane but what the hell.

I've been sick with a cough that Fredrik gave me. Ull scratched my eye last Friday and I seem to be suffering worse "separation anxiety" than the last time Fredrik went on tour. I hope the days go by faster. I'm feeling so absolutely blah. All I want to do is hide under the covers and pray that tomorrow will come faster. But Ull makes sure that I'm not doing that, which is really good.

what to make...

2007-11-19T22:23:00.000+01:00

Fredrik left on Sunday for the US. It is time again for me to fend for myself. At least now I have Ull to keep me company. He also makes me look less insane when I start talking to myself. I can at least pretend to be talking to him.

I guess my break from making is over. But at the present moment I have no idea what I want to make. I can sew some more or knit some more. I really should finish Stella's hat.

There is an order for another set of kitty charms but I am waiting for the buyer to tell me which 3 kitty charms they want. People seem to miss/forget to read the part about telling me which 3 kitty charms they want. Oh well.

I was also thinking that I might buy a Print Gocco kit. Although, I just bought myself a new iPod. I feel bad about spending so much money already. Maybe I'll wait a bit before I buy the Print Gocco kit. I haven't been particularly creative lately and don't think I'll come up with something in time for something like cute cards and whatnot before Christmas.

naked coffee cups

2007-11-18T16:32:00.000+01:00

Fredrik and I went to IKEA the other day and I got some coffee cups. They were only 2kr each! They're a bit bare. I might look into making a cozy for the cups. Maybe something with buttons. We'll just have to wait and see. Although, I have a feeling that this is one of those plans that will probably slip down the crack of lost/never initiated ideas.

huh...

2007-11-17T01:28:00.000+01:00

After looking at the selection of templates available through Blogger. I think I'm going to hold off changing the layout. I'll either find a layout somewhere on the interweb, try my best to figure out how to use it. OR I'll pack up the blog and move it on over to WordPress. Although WordPress doesn't allow me to use coding so that's a pain in the ass in terms of things like the webrings. I might look into what's available at Typepad. We'll see how things go.

It fits!

2007-11-17T00:48:00.000+01:00

Ted sent Fredrik a picture of baby Tyr with the Viking hat on. We found it amusing that Tyr had already perfected the blue steel (Zoolander) at such a young age.

changes...

2007-11-16T10:40:00.000+01:00

I've been looking at the layout of the blog and I think I am going to change the template to something with 2 columns. There might be some minor chaos when viewing the blog but things should get sorted out as soon as possible.

delicious wrist warmers

2007-11-15T23:10:00.001+01:00

I've discovered Eunny Jang's blog and she has the most delicious wrist warmer pattern available to those who wish to give it a try. Endpaper Mitts.

I wish I could bare the feeling of wool against my skin but I am one of those unfortunate people
who cannot wear wool. The socks I knitted lie unused and not properly appreciated. I have the cutest cardigan with an intarsia tiger and I can only wear that when I wear a long sleeve shirt under and even then I get itchy (at times, rashy) arms.

I think I will give the Endpaper Mitts a go with some lovely cotton. I have read much about bamboo yarn. I might look into that at some point.

Fredrik's best friend and girlfriend are coming over for dinner on Saturday. I'm gonna give brownies a try. I've got a copy of Everyday Food that's got some fantastic looking brownie recipes that I would like to try out.

Ull fell into the toilet today. I forgot to put the lid down and I guess he got extra curious. Poor little guy.

Cumbrian Snail Hat

2007-11-14T19:02:00.001+01:00

Cumbrian Snail Hat
Originally uploaded by cast on cast off

This is such a cute hat. I think I might give it a try if I can locate myself a copy of the pattern.

I was talking to Tara today and she mentioned that her and Denise have been talking about starting an Etsy account. I've been telling them about Etsy since I started my own Etsy store. I absolutely love it!
Tara makes some very nice jewellery that I think will be a great hit at Etsy.

I'm also thinking that I might give my first sweater a go. I rather like the Kyoto pullover from knitty. I think I will give it a go as soon as I find the perfect cotton yarn.

a wee break

2007-11-12T19:57:00.000+01:00

Fredrik is home till Sunday before he has to run off to the US for another tour. Then I'll have to fend for myself AND Ull. I am going to take a wee break this week. I finished some orders last week and think I'll just take it easy.

I might make some more hats. Although I have to finish Stella's hat first. I feel bad that I've been taking so long but there's been some orders that take priority. I will try to finish Stella's hat sometime this week.

I want to take a trip to Knit Lab to check out their yarn selection. Although, it will be hard since I don't really want to leave Ull at home by himself. Mind you, I don't really have anything in mind project wise at the present moment.

new member of the family

2007-11-10T23:33:00.001+01:00

Fredrik and I got a kitten! His name is Ull and he's SUPER cute!

Cat charms available on Etsy

2007-10-29T12:59:00.000+01:00

The cat charms that I made are available through my Etsy store.
I am in the process of making some more in different colours so I can start selling the charms with interchangeable cats.

They hang around awfully lonely at the moment. Here's hoping someone will give them a good home.

obsessive?

2007-10-26T23:15:00.000+02:00

This happens every time I discover something fun to do. Although I suppose hand sewing is not some "new" discovery for me but I have been doing it almost every spare moment I have. It does mean I am neglecting other aspects of my life, like doing the dishes. Well it's not like I've got piles of dishes in my sink. I'm just not as regular with the dishwashing.
It's more productive than watching TV. Although, I have been marathoning House while I sew. Just not as productive as let's say... recopying my notes from Swedish class.
But here are some of the new critters I have sewn.

2007-10-24T23:29:00.000+02:00

I've been occupying myself with sewing over the last couple of days. I've been addicted to making these felt critters since I made Fredrik. 2 girls in my class requested their own felt critter. One wanted a bear and the other wanted a monkey. I was actually quite impressed by how cute they turned out.

Today I made a long limbed bunny.

I'm planning on making more. If anyone is interested in having one of their own, please see my Etsy store.

Fredrik's coming home on Saturday. YAY!

knit knit knit

2007-10-18T23:45:00.000+02:00

I'm starting to get bored with knitting hats.

Denise was telling me today that she had figured out how to knit mittens. I knitted a pair of mittens once. Made them out of Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky. They were very nice but made my hands itch. Still, they were nice. Well, I lost them when I went to NYC with Fredrik. I think they fell out of my coat pockets when I was in the taxi with Fredrik looking desperately for our hostel.

I wish I wasn't allergic to wool. I tried to wear one of the wool kitty hats I knitted and I ended up with a rather itchy forehead. As I said to Denise, "I itch, then I scratch and then I look like some meth head with sores all over the place."

HATS!

2007-10-15T18:31:00.000+02:00

The brown kitty hat that I put on Etsy is on its way to a loving home. I'm rather happy about the fact that people like my hats enough to give them loving homes and that my hours of knitting is not in vain.
I finished the sweeten pink hat and that is available at my Etsy store. I've started another hat in Japanese plum, lovely rich dark purple. That should be available for sale in a few days.
I'll probably start another hat after that but I also want to try some other patterns. We'll see what I end up deciding to do.
I've also been thinking about Christmas. I want to make something for my friends in Canada. I thought about making crocheted versions of them. I guess we'll see how much time I end up having.
I've also got plans to get myself a Gocco Print kit. People in my Swedish class have been commenting on the doodles I do. They think they're really cute. It would be nice if I can make cards with my doodles on them. I think other people will like them. I hope they do.

Milk Plasma on Toast

2007-10-12T11:29:00.000+02:00

I know I haven't been particularly good at keeping up with my crafts. I've been busy with school and getting adjusted to life in Sweden. If you've looked on the side bar, you'll notice that there is a new link. I've been keeping a wee blog about my very unexciting life in Sweden. If you're interested, just mosey on over for a peek. Don't say I didn't warn you that my life is a bit of a bore.

http://messmor.wordpress.com/

kitty hat in mahogany

2007-10-11T23:20:00.000+02:00

I've started knitting hats this week. I've completed the hat portion in Lamb's Pride Superwash Worsted in Mahogany. Same colour as the one I knitted for Salma. It's such a nice shade of brown. Just need to knit some ears and then it'll be ready for the wash.
I've got a hat in Sweeten Pink that's missing an ear flap and some ears. Guess I'll be working on that also.
I should also finish the dragon theme hat for Malte and the viking hat for Ted's baby. So many things to do. I procrastinate so very much.

Baby hat on cat

2007-10-07T11:44:00.001+02:00

Baby hat on cat
Originally uploaded by souvenir_kattunge

This is one of the 2 wee hats I've been working on. This one is made with Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton. All it's missing are a pair of Viking horns.

Lamb's Pride Superwash Worsted Swatch

2007-09-30T13:15:00.000+02:00

So here's the swatch that I knitted.

Lamb's Pride Superwash on 5mm needles

2007-09-27T23:13:00.000+02:00

I kept my swatch measurements in a wee notebook but guess where that is. That's right, it's in Canada. So I'm gonna make use of my blog. I'm gonna keep a log of my swatches. Let's see how long this will last. I know I suck. I make all these promises and I rarely follow through. Oh well.

I'll add a photo of the swatch later. I've got some bad lighting right now.

So, here we go. Lamb's Pride Superwash. 5mm needles. 4.5 st / inch.

It's been a while.

2007-09-19T18:01:00.000+02:00

Today I took the subway home and I've rediscovered the joy of knitting.
This summer I've been rather unproductive and to be honest, not that big of a fan of knitting with wool on a hot summer day.

bibby

2007-09-17T11:37:00.001+02:00

bibby
Originally uploaded by NeedleNoodles

Ouuuu... Looks like I just found something else to make for the babies.

IT'S GETTING COLD OUT!

2007-09-16T22:33:00.000+02:00

Next week Fredrik will be going on tour with his band Amon Amarth and I'll be left to my own devices. Since I don't really like the idea of the roundabout and I have only learned the art of driving a manual car, I'll probably be getting better acquainted with the subway. Aka tunnelbana in Swedish. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_Metro)

Taking the subway will give me plenty of time to do some knitting. Something I haven't done in a while. I've been working on the baby Viking hat for Ted's upcoming baby but I really haven't gone anywhere spectacular with it. It's still a pathetic 1 inch ring. The baby could be here any day!

Aside from Ted's baby needing a hat, Fredrik's friend Linus also had a baby this year. Although Linus' baby was born in June. We bought the kid some baby clothes but I think the kid needs a hat too. I'm thinking of a dragon hat. One made from the mint green Lamb's Pride with red spikes. Fredrik thinks that it'll be a grand idea. Not to mention the fact that Linus' girlfriend also mentioned that Malte's head is getting too big for all the hats he has now. I can surely whip up a hat just in time for the cold weather.

Speaking of hats. I still have to make Paul's kitty hat. I was also thinking of making some kitty hats for Etsy. I have been slacking. There's nothing available on there. But it's been crazy havoc in the past few months. I was talking to Denise the other day and I asked her what exactly I did this summer. She reminded me that I've been busy with school and work and I went away to Hawaii with the family and then I also moved to a different country. It's no wonder that I haven't had any time to make anything.

My mom's daughter...

2007-09-06T10:03:00.000+02:00

I grew up eating my mom's dumplings. I'm very particular about the dumplings I eat. I don't eat store bought and I don't eat restaurant made. Only my mom's or my grandmother's will do.

The Chinese call it "Jiaozi", the Japanese call theirs "Gyoza" and the Koreans call theirs "Mandu". Ultimately they're meat and veggies wrapped in a thin dough. Sometimes it's pan fried (pot stickers), sometimes it's cooked in soup, and sometimes it's steamed. For more info, read about it on Wikipedia.

Fredrik and I experimented with making dumplings on Tuesday night. The result was delicious and left me feeling fuzzy inside. Now I have my own dumplings and I must say, I'm rather proud of myself. It's not as mastered as my mother's or my grandmothers but I think it'll get better.

More photos on flickr with descriptions.

Success!

2007-09-03T13:23:00.000+02:00

After some tweaking and reforming, the meatballs turned out alright. Fredrik thinks they taste great. Sometimes I'm a bit skeptical about his compliments on my cooking. (Paranoia set in place by an ex-boyfriend who told me that the pasta I made was gross. How rude.)

Obviously I made more than we can consume in one meal. I halved the recipe from scandinaviancooking.com and it made enough 1 teaspoon meatballs to feed a small party as hors d’œuvres.

So I bagged them in groups of 10 and popped them in the freezer for later consumption.

Fredrik was in Italy for a show on Saturday. I jokingly asked him to bring me back a souvenir of meat. He came home with 2 salami and some prosciutto. He's awesome like that.

the verdict is in...

2007-09-02T16:01:00.000+02:00

they're a bit bland... i'm gonna have to remix and reform...

experimenting with meat...

2007-09-02T15:33:00.000+02:00

i've got a wee craving for a bit of meatballs...
since we bought some ground beef the other day, i've decided to experiment with making my own meatballs...
i pulled a recipe from scandinaviancooking.com with some alterations of my own...
i haven't cooked them yet... they're in the fridge... i made formed a plate full last night and put them in the freezer to keep their shape...
i think i might cook a few in a wee bit to see how the flavouring turned out... if they're bland i'm gonna have to thaw the formed ones, make some adjustments and then form 'em all over again...
here goes nothing...

damn it

2007-08-31T21:31:00.000+02:00

while i was lying in bed the other day... i realized that i forgot to bring any stuffing...
i'm sure i'll find some in stockholm but i also have a stash back home in milton...
i also learned today that my printer prints up a whole whack of useless stuff when i clean the printer head...

life in stockholm

2007-08-23T13:56:00.000+02:00

it's been a few days of life in stockholm...
so far so good...
i'm waiting on hearing back from the university i applied at about this scandinavian culture
and language program that i want to take...
i think today i'm going to make an attempt at tidying up around the flat and possibly start on the wee viking hat for ted's baby... who is supposed to arrive in september...
as usual... i'm making it out of blue sky alpacas...
as for the pattern... i have not picked out anything yet... so far i haven't really seen anything i'm particularly fond of... i might just go with a basic baby hat and add horns...
i hope the happy couple will enjoy it...
i'm totally ok if they decide not to use it so often... it's just something that has to be done... seeing that ted is in a viking metal band and all... (he's the bass player in fredrik's band: amon amarth)

live from stockholm...

2007-08-15T01:57:00.000+02:00

i made it across the pond...

Oh the horror!

2007-08-11T07:11:00.000+02:00

Anyone that knows me, knows that I'm a bit of a pack rat. I could have a bit of yarn that is no longer than my hand and I'll still think that at some point in time it will become useful. Well now that I'm attempting to pack up my stuff for Sweden, being a pack rat SUCKS.
I'm looking at my room and wondering how on Earth am I going to ever get this stuff cleared out. There are things that I haven't seen in ages. I'm fighting my urges to keep things. I've got a garbage bag and trying to throw out anything unnecessary. But it's so hard. Everything could be so useful and I'll never know when I may have a use for it!
But I must persist and truck on. I can't say that I've decreased my yarn horde though and not too sure if I ever will.

2007-08-09T15:36:00.001+02:00

For most of my life, I've been one to say "I'll deal with it when it happens."
For most of my life, I say "what?!" when the moment does happen.
I really shouldn't complain that I am moving to Sweden. Lots of people would kill to have the opportunity. Part of me is rather excited to go.
But I must say that part of me is also reluctant to go. It's a really HUGE thing to leave behind all that you know. I suppose that Sweden isn't exactly so foreign but by comparison, I know very little about living in Sweden.
I suppose I'll just do what I usually do. I'll just wing it and see how it goes.
Wish me luck!

It's good to be home...

2007-08-09T07:38:00.000+02:00

After being away for 10 days, it's good to be home...
However, I'll only be staying for 5 days... and it's off to Stockholm!
Unfortunately there will probably not be any time for crafting but who knows, I might be able to sneak something especially with the super cute Japanese felt craft book starring at me...
I apologize for the recent lack of any interesting or important news but when I get the time, I'll try to make up for it...

MIA

2007-08-08T05:18:00.001+02:00

So I've been missing for the past little while...
School and work took up all my time in the last couple weeks of July...
I've also been in Hawaii for the past week or so...
I haven't had a chance to do any crafts...
But I did pick up a couple of Japanese craft books and a copy of Naughty Needles while I was in Hawaii...
I can't wait to try out the patterns... they look absolutely delicious...

you know what's gross???

2007-07-29T08:12:00.000+02:00

Personally, I'm rather opposed to people going around the city in flip flops. It's not so much a fashion thing but more of a hygiene thing.
Due to the fact that in the past few days I have not been able to wear shoes because I did something to my toe, I had to venture into the city in my flip flops.
When I got home, the first thing I did was shower and the thing I learned today was that, it's really damn gross to watch the dirt and grim wash off.
Can you imagine the condition of people's feet after a long day of wandering in the city???
Now I know that Toronto isn't so bad in terms of cleaniness. But we are definitely not a very clean city and wearing flip flops in the city is really damn gross.
I was cleaner in the country for 3 days without showering than I was today in the city for a mere 6 hours.
Actually, you know what's grosser than dirty flip flop feet? Dirty flip flop feet with bandaid. I saw a lady on the subway that had a bandaid on her foot. Are you asking for gangrene???

case of the blahs

2007-07-20T04:23:00.000+02:00

I feel like crap...
I've been over schooled and over worked...
I need to take a break from life...
But I saw Fredrik yesterday... that was nice...

words

2007-07-16T01:15:00.000+02:00

"I don't think you grow up until you stop worrying about other people's purpose or lack of them and find purposes you belive in for yourself"
--Ender (from Xenocide by Orson Scott Card)

And yes... I know I don't know how to properly quote.

2007-07-10T04:33:00.000+02:00

Last week, I started summer school. I'm currently taking gr 12 biology even though gr 12 was a long time ago. But I need it if I plan on this dental school idea and I find biology to be rather fascinating. Unfortunate thing is that it starts at 8am and I have to drive almost 45min, which means I've been getting up at 6:30am.

Every so often I get a craving for a breakfast sausage sandwich. It could be one from McDonalds or one from Tim Hortons. But I decided that it was ridiculous to be paying $4 every day for breakfast. I'm ok with buying coffee but the sandwich I decided to make my own.

Starts out with some Pilsbury Country Biscuits. I know that some of you may cringe but I haven't mastered the art of a biscuit yet and well, these take like 15 minutes. So for now, I will be taking the easy way. They turned out rather ok. Nice and golden.

Then we have some sausage rounds. "Ready in 10 minutes." I didn't really time them.

Now for the assembled product. I'm not the biggest fan of the egg. But I suppose that I can make the egg in the morning if I decide that it's an egg sort of day.

I made 6 sausage patties but there were 10 biscuits. I think I'll just have them with some raspberry jam. Yum! Btw, I also sampled one. Hence only 5 on the plate above.

2007-07-09T21:01:00.000+02:00

So I've decided that maybe I'll include some non-craft related posts on this blog.
... and for some reason I can't edit the title of this post... oh well...
Anyways. "Why this other junk about your life?" you may ask.
Well, I'm kind of tired of having 2 separate blogs. I can't see exactly why I can't put a wee bit of ranting down in my craft blog.
It'll probably stay primarily about the crafts, just a light sprinkling about what's going on in my life and my random complaints.
So here's hoping that I won't scare you away.

Fetching

2007-07-07T17:40:00.001+02:00

Fetching, originally uploaded by souvenir_kattunge.

Well... I did it.
I made 2... yes a whole pair... of fetching.
I'm rather proud of myself that I got both of them done.
Actually, I finished them last week at the beginning of the week.
I've been busy going to summer school for biology.
But I love the way that they turned out with the Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton.
I have actually started on another pair using the leftover pink yarn I used for my kitty hat. So far, so good. But I'll need to pick up another skein if I want a pair.
I can't wait till the weather gets a bit more chilly. I was thinking that these would be perfect for bike riding.