now I'm beginning to have some fun

Hi folks. I'm currently at my parents' compound in Portland, and now that all the physical moving is behind me, I'm really beginning to unwind. I really enjoyed my last drive down I-5 on Tuesday. I've made the trip so many times in the past 4 years, I could do it with my eyes closed, but this time I really looked around me and tried to soak in the northwest scenery.

If you're familiar with the section of the I-5 that I'm talking about, you'll know there's a farmer in central Washington who likes to share his political views with drivers-by by posting them on a huge billboard on his property. Usually I just grit my teeth and mutter angrily when I read his ponderings but this time, I burst out laughing. I wish I was fast enough with my camera to get a picture. His billboard read, "Don't you think immigrants should have to wait 21 years to vote? I did." Most troubling to me was why this opinionated person would waste 3 perfectly legal voting years before finally turning in his first ballet....




My parents' house is so easy to relax in, and luckily, the weather has been gorgeous for the past few days. Still, I need to get moving. Yesterday I went to Knit/Purl with my sister and she was so taken by the Habu yarns' packaging that she decided she must learn to knit in order to justify the purchasing of some Silk Mohair Kusa! I'll be stopping by the nearest yarn shop to pick up some learn-to-knit supplies. More on that later.

Not a post for arachniphobes

After posting my yesterday's entry about my emotions, I went to take a soothing bath, only to find this guy hanging out on my shower curtain. For those of you who don't live in the northwest, this is a Hobo Spider. Hobo spiders have a painful, necrotic (flesh eating) bite that generally requires skin grafting to heal. Not something I'm interested in now that I'm without health insurance, thanks. Feeling very vulnerable last night, I photographed my victim, then quickly struck him down on the ground and crushed him (he was so big it was audible, folks!) before he scurried off. Then I quietly sobbed for killing him when really, he hadn't done anything to me.

Today though, I'm feeling much better. I put a major dent in the packing and cleaning, and it's safe to say I'll be out of here by 2:00 pm tomorrow. Also, I just started my very first Clapotis, and I'm enjoying myself. I'm purling the stitches between the ktbl's, like my old coworker, S. I just need to take care not to finish the Clap before my flight next Sunday. This seems the perfect knitting project for the plane ride.

Also, something to look forward to: no hobo spiders in New York City.

packing up and moving out.

I've been trapped inside my apartment for the weekend, finishing up with the painting, packing and throwing away of things. There's actually quite a bit left to be done. I'd hoped to be on the road to Portland on Monday, but now it looks like it'll be Tuesday afternoon at the earliest. I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed right now with all the physical work I have left to do, not to mention how isolated I feel knowing I've just left an amazing job behind, and I don't know what my future holds in New York. It's difficult for me to say really how I feel about it right now. I'm trying to push through waves of sadness and excitement and just work on erasing the evidence of my existance in this apartment.

hooked up.

I went to my last knitting night at Sundara's last Wednesday. I didn't do any knitting, but it was still a great time.... *sniff*.... I'm going to miss knitting night.

Also, check out the amazingly generous and gorgeous good-bye gift I received from Sundara! 3 skeins of her silky aran merino in Violaceous. Oooh! Ahh! This colorway is so amazing. Nevermind my horrible picture. It GLOWS rich turquoise and deep violet. I only picture 2 skeins above because I wound the third into a messy ball upon receiving the gift. I plan to knit my first Clapotis with this stuff.

Also, check out my Forecast! It's finally finished blocking. Next I'll need to sew on the buttons, but since I'm using leather wrapped buttons, I want them to be removeable for when I wash the sweater. Sundara suggested sewing my buttons to metal shanks rather than the actual sweater. Sounds like a good idea. Now I have to figure out just how to do this.... Anyone out there have experience in the area?

Welcome to my hell.

When you ask a life-long, card carrying pack rat, fixer upper and crafter like me to move across the country, you're asking more than what you might think. Last weekend, I had a moving sale. The thought of having strangers come into my apartment to see just how much junk I've horded over the years had me crawling under the couch with humiliation. And then to be asking them to PAY me in order to take it away?? Yikes. I suddenly reverted to my teenage self, mortified by anything and everything around me. Thank god I have S, who came over to help with posting signs in the neighborhood on Saturday morning, and then she stuck around all day to chat up customers for me while I huddled in the kitched, slouching and playing with my hair. AND!!! To my surprize, people came and were willing to pay me to take away my stuff! It's a wonderful life afterall.

Watch me. I'm going to move to New York and be reborn as a minimalist with a monochromatic wardrobe.

bad pictures of my cufflinks

Sorry for the horrible pictures. My boyfriend's the photographer, not me. Anyway. I'm proud.

i heart rummage

I joined good old Er and Jenna and their housemate Sarah today for another craft sale. This one was at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle, and the sale is called i heart rummage. It's held seasonally every first Sunday of the month. It was so much fun! Jenna made out like a bandit with her Friend or Faux creations. I enjoyed a bloody mary and talking with my ladies. It was also nice to get away from my apartment, which looks like a tornado recently passed through. I did buy a few trinkets from other vendors, but I am proud to report that I also exercised a great amount of restraint, keeping in mind that anything that I buy here in Seattle will have to be moved to New York within the month. I bought some yummy, deluxe soaps from Estrella (cinnamon/clove and bergamot) and a flask with a hand-tooled and painted leather cover from a talented woman I forgot to grab a business card from. My goodies are pictured below, along with my adorable new hand towels embroidered by Er. All very useful in my upcoming adventures, no? As a bonus, Peter Buck, REM guitarist and owner of Crocodile Cafe, wandered around ihr to check out the crafts along with his daughter! Also, the Rat City Rollergirls were in attendance, skating around and promoting their awesome selves.

After realizing my mistake with my Forecast yesterday, I decided I needed to accomplish something creative before going to bed. I had just happened upon a french cuffed shirt in my closet which will be perfect for interviews in NY, only it's missing it's cufflinks. I pulled out my beading box and made a pair with green glass beads and copper wire. Success! It was such a statisfying and quick project. I'll try to post pictures tomorrow.

stupid, stupid, stupid

Can you see the difference between the two sleeves on my Forecast? I forgot to switch to my size 6 needle for the ribbing on the right sleeve. Of course, I only noticed once I'd completely finished the arm. Arg. I just ripped it back to start over again. I just want to be finished at this point. I took a few hours last night to finish that sleeve. Hours I could have been packing.

It's only 7 PM on Saturday, and I'm already totally burnt out on this packing business. I think once this move is complete, I'm going to be reborn as a modern minimalist. I'll wear a simple, urban, monochrome uniform and a multifunctional, sleek little apartment full of empty space.

EVERYTHING MUST GO!!!

I woke up very early this morning, and started to attack the piles of stuff I've horded over the years. How is it that I've managed to move relatively easily nearly every year for the past 6 years, hauling the evidence of my pack rat lifestyle behind me? It's time to start fresh. I need to get rid of as much as possible before I leave for New York in another 3 1/2 weeks. I've started posting some vintage and hardly worn new shoes on eBay. sniff, sniff. I hate getting rid of shoes. The ones pictured are some of my favorite, though I don't fit them. They were just such an amazing thrift find. Gorgeous vintage pinup pumps: I love you. If you're in the market, take a look! I'm seller fifteenanntics. Here's a link to my items for sale. Shameless plug. Sorry! I plan to post more stuff (probably none of it knitting-related, sorry) throughout the week. sigh. I hate moving.