Some Crafting

It's my last semester of classes before a year of rotations, and I am feeling many shades of scared and excited. I know this semester will be over before I know it...and all the times in the previous last semesters where I consoled myself when I didn't know enough about something, that I still had till spring 2009 to learn it....are coming back to bite me in the ass. February has been a month of hell (we have 1 each semester), but it's starting to wind down a little, so I figured I should take some time to blog.

I did get some knitting and weaving done in January - hats and neckwear, which are always fun. Project details in my Ravelry, if you care to view.
As for February, not so much with the crafting, although I am hoping to get working on a latch-hook rug and my Aleita Shell after this madness. I did do some cheapo candlemaking yesterday, as a quick side project to satisfy the craftiness. I melted tealights in a pan I had used for melting beads, added some color, scent, and wicks from Michaels, and poured the wax into cups I scored from the thrift store near me.
Not too bad, although the bubbles kind of annoy me, and one of the cups I poured into sounded like it was cracking when I poured the wax in. I did come across a candlemaking video online afterwards, so now I know the "proper" way to do this. So of course, there is some real equipment and soy wax on its way to me.

My textbook and bed are both calling my name, so till next time!

Merry Christmas!

Hello blogreaders (if there's any left)! To say it's been a while would be an understatement. The fall semester was really rough, so that I barely had any time to myself. My schedule for the last 2 weeks of the semester can pretty much sum up how tiring it was...



So of course, after that hell, I had to get away. I just came back from sunny Mexico - Playa del Carmen to be exact. It was fun and much needed, and I'm definitely bummed to be back in the frigid cold.

Chichen Itza - one of the new 7 Wonders of the World

What else has happened in the 3 months since I last blogged...I got a new kitty companion for Nermal! Munchkin is such a cutie! Nermal was a little grumpy toward her at first, but now they are good friends. In fact, as I type this, Munchie is using Nermal's butt as a pillow while they sleep together.

the adorable pic that was Cute Overload worthy =)

Knitting-wise, I've been on a shawl kick...knitted another Woodland Shawl out of Smooshy since my last blog post, and started a Japanese Feather Stole. Which I had to frog because of getting my KP needles confiscated at the Cancun Airport (grumble grumble). Since I have no needles for that shawl now at home in NYC, I'm working on getting my Prismatic done. AND, I finally got a loom! Been pining for that for a while, and decided that I really really really want it now, and it would be great for using up random 1-skeiners in the stash. My bf bought it for me as an early birthday present (thanks again, hun!)...it's a 20" Schacht Flip rigid heddle loom. Can't wait to start playing with it!!

That's all for now. I hope it's not another 3 months or more before I blog again! Wishing everyone a safe and happy holidays! And Happy 2009!

Woodland Shawl Part 2

So I lied about using the Manos Silk Blend for my Woodland Shawl. I liked the idea of a delicate shawl, so I ended up using more of my stashed Smooshy for this one. I love it! I made no mistakes on this one, and I managed to use every bit of the skein up (had 2 yards left when I was done). More pics and details on Ravelry.

As usual, my school schedule sucks. While the classes this semester are more applied and useful, more studying is going to be required. The first 2 weekends were the only ones where I didn't have to study. From this weekend forward, I will be studying and studying and studying, because I have tests every week from this Monday until Christmas vacation! At least there is no crazy 2 weeks of 9 tests like in the summer, but I definitely have to get used to studying way in advance and I also have to learn to balance studying with having an inkling of a life. I think I would go mad if all I did was study. Which probably explains how I was able to finish this Woodland Shawl in less than a month. That is definitely fast for me!

Going to graduate school, studying all the time, while being away from home and loved ones is definitely the hardest thing I have done in my life so far. I hope it gets somewhat easier, and I hope it is worth it!

14-week Stack of Info

Woohooo! Good riddance to the summer semester!! I didn't think I would get through it - but I did, and with good grades (after a crappy start). Time for some much needed R & R, and shopping too! =)

My First Completed Lace!

I had to blog about this, because this is just awesome. I finished the Woodland Shawl I've been working on in between studying. I love how it came out! This is my first completed lace project - and wow, the miracles of blocking! The yarn and the pattern worked together beautifully, and the shawl is so delicate and pretty. The only problem I had was that my cast off was a lot tighter than my cast on, so one end has a lot more points than the other. Also, the shawl is a tad bit too short for me, so I will be giving it to my sister, since she is thinner.

I am totally knitting one for myself, but I plan to knit more repeats. I'm thinking of using Manos Silk Blend for that - yum!

As for school, it has been crazy, but the summer semester is coming to an end in a week! Last week was especially painful, as I had 5 tests in 3 days of class. This coming week is my last week - I have 4 tests, but 2 are not that important, so that's probably why I've been knitting instead of studying! After the summer semester, I have FIVE days before fall semester starts. Crazy little, but I will take what I can get. Planning on going to the beach, so I am looking forward to getting some much needed R&R and maybe some knitting on my Woodland Shawl! =)

Back to studying - take care, everyone!

An Update

School is still killer (I've had 11 tests since June 2, with 2 really difficult ones coming up on Monday). But I figured I should update what remains of this craft blog with something crafty that I actually finished!


Here is some handspun 2-ply fingering-sport weight yarn! I believe this is the supersoft superwash wool fiber I got from Little Barn at NY Sheep & Wool 2006. I had dyed the fiber and spun a bobbin of it a year ago. I just spun another bobbin of it whenever I had some free moments here in PA and plied it up last week. I love it, although it didn't turn out as uniform as I would've liked - the singles I spun recently came out a lot thicker than the singles of the first bobbin!


I also got around to finally winding off this fairly boring 1-ply yarn from circa 2006. If I remember correctly, this was my first full bobbin of singles I spun (ok, I just checked my blog - it was from March 18, 2006!), and I don't know if I was planning on spinning more, or just too plain lazy to wind it...but at any rate, it is finally off the bobbin! 63 yards of useless, yay!

Off to bed I go - gotta get nice and rested for my weekend of studying. Hope everyone has a happy 4th!

The Pursuit of Higher Learning

Well, it's been hectic since I last posted here. What have I been up to since the end of April? Packing, moving, unpacking, reading textbooks, and starting PA school. I just finished my 2nd week of school, and it is C-R-A-Z-Y.

Here is what my life looks like nowadays:
Thursdays are the worst - I'm in class from 8-7. I think I'm still used to the much easier and lax schedules of my undergrad college and the comm college I went to recently for prereq courses. I am sooo behind, and my first test is Monday. This third week also kicks off the start of having at least 1-2 tests per week, with 1 or 2 occasional testless weeks mixed in. Needless to say, I am screwed! At least realizing this has given me the motivation to start coming back from class and reading/studying for at least 2 hours each day no matter what. Also needless to say, I have not had the chance to knit or do crafty things lately. Hopefully, once I get the hang of this grad school thing, I will have more time to spare. Sigh.

The only "crafty" (or maybe "DIY" is more the word) thing I've done recently is this:

I made my own butter! It is soooo easy, and the process is way cool. And that bread is from Trader Joe's and was super delish.

Well, back to studying, even though I am having the hardest time concentrating today. And it's not even due to this, which happened earlier in the week:
But, I made a deal with myself that I would reward my studying with some knitting later tonight, so I gotta get on it.

Till next time, whenever that will be.

Back!

Well, I've been back since Monday, but have been too busy catching up on much needed sleep, and also been feeling generally lazy.

Spain was so much fun! I wish we could've had one more day to eat more tapas and see the remaining sights though. We spent the first 2 days seeing the sights in Madrid: (all pics clickable)

Retiro Park

Prado

Palacio Real

Plaza Mayor

Also at the Plaza Mayor, was El Gato Negro, one of the 2 yarn shops I had planned to hit up. Sadly, I did not buy any yarn at this establishment, due to being in a rush, not knowing how to say "wool" in Spanish, and being scared of buying yarn in kilos. I didn't get the chance to go to the other yarn shop, Lanas Sixto, but I went briefly into Lanas Alondra (which was very close to my hotel) and bought 1 sad skein of Schachenmayr nomotta Extra. I totally regret not buying yarn at El Gato, but the Euro-Dollar exchange rate is horrendous anyways, so that's what I've been saying to myself in consolation.

Other highlights of the trip including seeing flamenco at Corral de la Moreria...
Adrian Sanchez - this guy was amazing!

2 day trips to Toledo and Segovia..

Catedral tower in Toledo

Aqueduct at Segovia

yummy lunch here including roast suckling pig and flan!

..and other culinary delights such as churros con chocolate, bocadillo de calamares, jamon serrano, and tapas con vino!

Nothing beats going to another country, sampling the culture and having great times with best friends!

Feel free to peruse the full gamut of Spain photos! =)