when art imitates life

I recently noticed a color theme in my work shoes and the piece I was painting. Apparently I'm in my yellow-orange phase.



Check out more photos and the process of the drop here.

merry christmas to all

Holiday Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Depends on the complexity of wrapping the gift and how late we are to the party.
2. Real tree or Artificial? I love the smell of real but I can't bring myself to murder a tree for mere decoration. Plus we use our fireplace and that's too much of a fire hazard for me.
3. When do you put up the tree? My love won't let me do it before December 1st, so the first chance I get after that. I usually want to do it following Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? Depends...some years not until New Years day, some years the day after Christmas
5. Do you like eggnog? Not especially, but I like the rum I thin it with.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I would have to be the year I got my play kitchen. It even had a little water dispenser in the door.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My husband's family
8. Easiest person to buy for? My little brother
9. Do you have a nativity scene? no...I do have the one from my childhood in a box somewhere waiting to be repainted.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail...I usually do handmade too if I can swing it.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? apparently I've blocked it out.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas or Die Hard
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Far later than I should
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? maybe
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? cookies...certain ones only get made this time of year.
16. Lights on the tree? Yes. All one color or separate strands of single color. I abhor multi-color lights on a single strand.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Traditional: Silent Night
Parody: Twelve Pains of Christmas
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? It depends
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? yes
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning...after tea, before breakfast.
21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Being a child of divorce the fighting over visiting who when and the fact that it seems everyone dies this time of year.
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? Blue and white/crystal
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? I don't know.
24. Angel on the tree top or a star? Really cool vintage star that has spinning color action.
25. Favorite Christmas dinner? Goose or Roast beef of some sort.

What we've been up to...

I did finally finish the Baby Yoda Sweater. I had to sew the sleeves in twice. Next time I'd make the sleeves shorter. The yarn is Moda Dea Washable Wool. I scored a bunch of it on clearance at JoAnn's a while back.


This is the Sally Melville scarf that I knit as a thank you for my doula. I couldn't have gotten through the birth without her. It's knit out of Berroco Comfort. I liked this pattern so much that I'm knitting myself one out of some lone Malabrigo in my stash.













And I finally did something about my hair. Saturday was spent at the Angry Chair going from this:


to this:


What you really can't see in this photo is the purple hilights. Yes, I finally dyed my hair purple and I love it. I also got a job out of the trip. I'm going to be repainting the salon and they're giving me free reign.

And if you didn't notice in the picture above my little one is wearing his NIN onesie made by Jenny.












And because he's just too cute here he is in his skeleton sweats (thank you Rachel and Jack).

Inspiration

I'm almost done with the Yoda Sweater. I'm in the process of seaming it at the moment. I hope to have it finished tonight.

My husband directed me to this YouTube video and it completely blew me away. I love John Williams...I really wanted to walk down the aisle to one of his pieces but the priest was not so keen on that. My old priest, who died several years ago, would have loved it. But anywho, enjoy and then wrap your mind around how much work this must have taken.

hey you!

Get out and vote!

Still undecided? Try this quiz but please, please vote.

And if you don't, then I don't want to hear you complain about the outcome or anything related for the next four years! Here's a few images to ponder in your ambivalence...

The force is strong with this one

Happy belated Halloween.

It was a busy day here. I didn't get the Yoda sweater done in time but the hat was a go. We had a lot less kids than we normally do, which is odd because the weather was rather pleasant. We had family visiting as well.

Here he is:


There is a disturbance in the force.

I made something!

I had to make this for him. I couldn't resist and it's just too cute. Some day I'll be able to post a picture of him with his eyes open. My next knitting project is his Halloween costume which I hope to post before too long. I'll be dressing up as usual this year. Now I can coordinate my costume with someone.

I've been trying to figure out how to nurse hands free so I can knit at the same time. It's going fairly well. Life in general is feedings, diaper changes, laundry, figuring out which of the trifecta (eat, sleep or shower) I should do when he's asleep, and just sitting and staring at this amazing little person.

Rock...tech geek style

Here's an article about the setup at the NIN show I went to. We talked about this for days afterward. If you get a chance SEE THIS SHOW. It really is a sensory experience.

Introducing...

the new man in my life:

All in the Timing

That's more than just a collection of David Ives plays in my life. I had to make it to my anniversary date of September 4th to qualify for my short term disability leave. I wasn't too worried as I was due on the 17th and told I would most likely be late.

Imagine my surprise when my water breaks at 4 am on the 5th! My little guy waited just long enough and then decided to arrive....two weeks early! We were so unprepared. We had planned on the weekend as our time to finish up the baby prep. The joke was on us.

At 5:22pm on the 5th our little one was born. It was 13 1/2 hours from when my water broke. I had no drugs, no epidural...there was no time to really even consider one. Someone got a little stuck and I was almost headed for a c-section. But I did it...and he's wonderful.

For sake of privacy I'm not posting his name on the net but the initials of his first and middle name are JA. We just came home yesterday and haven't up loaded pictures yet.

So there it is...don't know when I'll get on next.

Takin care of business

Last week I went back to work and jumped right in and hit the ground running. So I've been utterly exhausted. I'm taking it easy as much as I can. I was sore as hell last week, but at least I am sleeping again. Though now I am dealing with swelling of my hands and feet. Luckily I took my rings off a few weeks ago. I was using a inherited ring as a substitute wedding band, but it is of too much sentimental value to wear at work. My hands go up and down so much I don't think any rings could be comfortable. Most nights I come home and crash on the couch with my feet up. Some day I hope to see my ankle bones again.

I did get some sewing done. The dust ruffle for the crib is nearly complete. My bag is all prepped, I just need to sit down and do a marathon sewing session. The earliest that could happen is Friday night. I've got a full week with my hospital tour, lactation class and a doctor's appointment. I've chosen a doula and I'm starting to get our little guy's stuff situated. I swear he already has more clothes then the both of us combined. He's head down now, which means he's kicking my ribs and stomach constantly.

We took him to his first concert...NIN. He loved it, but then who couldn't love Trent Reznor. The show was amazing. It was the most visually stimulating concert that I've ever been to. Of course we were getting our geek on by analyzing the equipment. It was my last concert for a while and what a memory to have to cling to.

My brain is fried at this point, I think I've updated on everything...I'm off to bed.

I'm just watched Serenity again and you know, I still can't forgive Joss Whedon for what he did to Wash.

Not quite sewing yet...

The weekend went well. My sew-fest today was slightly put off by a scheduled trip to the vet and the writing/addressing of thank you notes.

I have started cutting projects. I do need to pick up a tad more fabric, and plan to do so first thing tomorrow. I'll be a single girl tomorrow due to some ill-timed truck arrivals at the theatre, but that leaves me uninterrupted sewing time.

And today I realized I go back to work next week...where did my summer break go?

Trains

I'm hitting the rails again this weekend for a quick jaunt to the home town. Reason?; one of my baby showers. I have another there next weekend...long story, don't want to tell it. If you know anything about my family situation, that's enough.

When I return, Monday will be sewing day. I have these fabrics waiting in the wings:



I can't wait to get down and dirty with my sewing machine at last. I had planned on spending much more time with it this summer but life intervenes. I guess you'll just have to wait until Monday to see what they will be.

Updates

I just did two updates on Footprints in the Sky. The next (and uber-long but very cool) one will be up sometime tomorrow.

(now it's up)

Check out the shiny shiny pretty.

50 Days

It's 50 days until my estimated due date. As you can see, Isis can't believe how big I've gotten. I can't believe how big I've gotten. I still run into things, especially counters, since I am use to stepping much closer to them. I had to take off my rings on Sunday. They weren't getting tight, but it was getting much harder to get them off. Better off now, then with bolt cutters later. I feel completely naked without them. And without the wedding band I get dirty looks when the belly and I are out. I have behaved myself so far and bite my tongue...but one of these days I'm bound to unleash on some stranger. Speaking of strangers...man if you want unsolicited advice or opinions, walk around pregnant. If one more person asks if I'm having twins or tells me I'll never make it to September, I will unleash some serious Pregzilla on them. I'm measuring right on time and I've gained the recommended amount of weight, but people feel the need to make me feel like I'm carrying an elephant and about to drop any moment. What is wrong with people. Luckily I've been spared people touching the belly uninvited. Maybe I just look like the type of person who would break their wrist if they tried...because I am.

I know I promised more blogging and it hasn't happened. We've been the land of chronic thunderstorms here. Actually lightning struck right outside the other night; it was like a huge flashbulb (remember flashbulbs?) went off in the street. Then a deafening crash and the whole house shook. Then the sound of sirens...something was on fire nearby, but not in viewing distance of our front door.

The other anti-blogging factor has been our internet connection which has decided to be spotty at best. My love can't seem to get to the root of it, and our phone company (we have DSL) claims there are no problems on their end.

I have been knitting. I can't show too much of it right now as it is a gift. I've hit a small snag with several projects though...with the crib up, my blocking bed has been packed away. Now I need to find somewhere to block that I can shut the cats out of. Not an easy task in this house.

Home sweet home

I'm back. I came home on Friday. The emotion of the last week and half really hit me when I came home.

While I was gone my husband took down the guest bed and put the crib together. Birthing classes start this week...actually we switched nights and it started last week, but the instructor said it was ok to miss the first class. This is starting to get all too real.

I don't know what to say right now...

I'm back

actual blogging to follow

On the Road Again

Well I'm headed out of town again.

My Grandmother passed away on Wednesday morning and the services are this weekend. It was an expected passing as she was under Hospice care, but still very heartbreaking. Back in the early days of my parents divorce I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. My Grandmother could be a difficult and frustrating woman, but she loved us all very much. I wish she could have been here long enough to see my little guy, but she was completely thrilled about the pregnancy. Even in her less lucid moments she would ask how I was and how the baby is doing. I'll miss you Gram, but I shall carry you on in me and with your cooking. I mean, after all, it was me who you gave your coveted cast iron frying pan to.

I'm not sure how long I'll be gone. And I know I promised more blogging but we've been plagued with random thunderstorms and spotty internet access. We can't seem to figure out why we keep losing our connection.

And the fun begins...sorta

I have a few days of work in the weeks ahead, but otherwise I'm on my summer break. I can't really remember the last time I had a summer off. Since I have had a job, I've worked on all my breaks. I have a lot of plans for my time off.

Today I received my first Amy Butler pattern. I got the Weekender Travel Bag. I can't wait to start working on it. I plan on making one as my hospital bag. A little treat for myself. I don't think I will be using her fabrics, but I'm not sure yet.

I've been knitting in fits and spurts, but I did finish the Cable Baby blanket. I still have to weave in the ends and block it yet. Yesterday I scored some superwash wool at JoAnn's that was a $1.97 a skein clearance. I have no plans for it yet. I hope to get my stash on Ravelry on my time off.

The little guy is doing well. He's quite the active fellow. Though I keep warning him that he's got 12 more weeks in there and he better save some room.

I've such a big list of things I want to (and need to) accomplish that I'm not quite sure where to start. Tonight is a night alone as my love is off to a bachelor party for my boss. I'm tired and my brain is having trouble forming real sentences so I shall go now.

A moment of silence...

for George Carlin.

And I will freely admit that I cried when I heard the news. The man was a comic genius who influenced so many people. I quote him all the time. He's made me laugh at my darkest moments, and shown me that I'm not the only one out there who thinks the way I do. He will be deeply missed. It's a shame he didn't live long enough to receive his Mark Twain award.

Oh and I'm off contract now...I've a few days of work over the next week and then I'm done for several weeks, so expect a lot more blogging happening.