Yikes

A month and more goes by and I am finding less and less time to write or read blogs. Sad to say I think that my time at Throwing Sticks might be coming to an end. In the year that I have had this blog I have met some really wonderful women, seen some wonderful knitting, completed some of my own projects. My blog sustained my creativity through a very bleak period in my life - the soul sucking job that I left last September. It is hard to imagine that it has been that long. In the intervening time I have re-acquainted myself with my friends in the theatre, have been working steadily, and have found a new passion. I threatened well over a year ago to become a better photographer. To that end I enrolled in classes at the local community college. A whole new world has opened up. It hasn't replaced knitting, nothing can, but it is taking up all that time previously spent bored out of my skull eight hours a day. It is quite possible that Throwing Sticks will morph into something more like a hybrid between knitting and photography... My sticks and stash have been my models on more than one occasion. Until such time as I get myself organized, thanks all for stopping by and reading.

All apologies...

Busy, busy, busy am I. I am in hell week (although I am told that it is no longer PC to refer to Tech/dress week as hell week - oops who knew).

I was hired by Palo Alto Players to ASM (assistant stage manage) their current production of Urinetown. Now before there is a collective "eeeeewwwww", let me tell you I am decidedly anti the discussion of bodily functions, however, this is a really fun show, and really only has one lurid peeing scene. Trust me, its fun. But the really good news is that I have been hired to direct a project for the SF Fringe Festival. Working a local community theatre production gets my feet back in the busines, but directing in the Fringe is what I really want to be doing!!!!

I have finished Heather. Well, I lie just a little... all but the neck is knit, blocked, sewn... now I am having a design crisis. I don't like things touching my neck, Heather is a funnel necked sweater, so I am debating making her a crew neck. I have actually been wearing her with an unfinished neck (and a big scarf), just for the sheer joy of having my camel colored sweater before the warm weather sets in... Pictures and links will follow tomorrow.

In the interum I am working on Iris - and old friend whom I had a major altercation with last spring. Since then I have learned how to short row, I should have a denim blue bolero within the week.

Promise, pictures tomorrow.

There is much afoot

And I can't talk about it... grrrr... Suffice to say there was a meeting in Berkeley today regarding a theatre festival in which I very much want to participate. Last week there was an interview with a prestigious theatre company for whom I want to work. Yikes!

And I knit.

Hey, did anyone know that babies the best recipients of knit work? Damn! They are small, and very small amounts of yarn are needed. A classmate of mine is expecting next month and I went on a bootie rampage! I didn't take any photos as I was in the middle of finals (and a huge resume push), but I knit my ass off in a bootilicious frenzy. Let me just say - all of ya'll who want to breed, befriend yourselves some knitters, 'cos that is some fun and satisfying knitting! Bring on the babbies, Tia Godiva is here to knit their world!

And Heather continues Given that our weather is crap (I admit not as horrible as the weather that the folks in the mid states have experienced), I am a knitting machine. This weeks is spring break, I have a few meetings with potential gigs, two lunches with former co-workers,and that is it, so I think that I might actually have the time to finish Heather before the season it out... keep fingers crossed!

Pictures tomorrow

PS Did I mention that I have a photo commission with a local LYS? More on that when and if it all works.

Corsa Update 2

Thank you to everyone who sent out those good thoughts for Corsa Chili. All that positive energy worked. His surgery was a fantastic success. The final biopsy of the leg revealed that the cancer had not progessed beyond stage I, the upshot being that he will not need any further treatment. He will be with us for a long time. You would never know that he had ever used four legs, he is so good with three! We love our boy-o!

Premature...

SNOW!

Ok I got a ration of shite from my good friends in snow country for my measly snow pictures of Thursday. Things took a turn Friday midday, and on Sunday morning we woke up to a winter wonderland. I present snow Santa Cruz Mountain Style.


Snowing on Friday afternoon.


Godiva considers snow, and is, well, confused.


Sunday morning, the farm across the road, could be Montana (maybe?)


Later on Sunday, the snow melts off the the driveway, but the yard still looks gorgeous.


Corsa loves the snow (he is totally unaware that he lacks a leg - this is four days after his surgery).


The back deck.

Wow!

You're no bunny...

'till some bunny loves you.


(pre-felted looks a little like a pig)


(felted funness!)

The pattern is called "Bunny Fun" designed by Bev Galeskas from Fiber Trends. Miguel von Bunny is made of stashed alpaca left over from Angelina. I don't know what brand it is, but it is worsted weight and just lovely yarn. I used size 8 dpns, but the project works with just about any weight yarn and needle. Once felted the bunny was easy to shape. His ears are a little floppy so he must be a lop. It was delightful (and fast) to knit, and I am off to knit some carrots.

This constitues proof positive that I still can knit and finish projects....

SNOW!

Brrrr, now knitting doesn't seem like such a silly hobby! Wish that I had made a greater push to finish Heather, I really need her now!

Our Boy is Home!

Not much to say, he went in for surgery yesterday, we picked him up this morning. He is a little trooper. We will know after the weekend what stage the cancer had reached, and if he will need to undergo any further treatment. For now, we are thrilled to have our Corsa home, and in good form. I know he is in good form, the sound of the butter wrapper, the opening of the cookie jar... he is right there sporting his fancy bandana patterened pig collar.

Corsa Update

Well the news is good, or as good as can be with a cancer diagnosis. His ultrasound, X-rays and blood work came back clean and clear. This means that the cancer has not moved from its location in his leg. Sadly it means that the leg has to go. The good news is, after the amputation he may not have to undergo chemo. I suppose it is all relative. I know that we will do everything we can in our power to help him stay healthy and comfortable. His comfort is our greatest concern. And really, you would never know that he was sick, aside from a little limp, this dog is as vital and frisky as he was when he was a pup (although when you are speaking about labs that is either hurricane force or asleep...)

Again thanks for all the good thoughts.

Heather is on the back burner. I am working on some easy felted pieces, and am about to cast on for a sweater for my friend's son. I guess I can wait until next year for my camel colored sweater, even though this is the one week that I need a big sweater - we have snow on the ground!!!!!!

I leave you with Corsa romping at Davenport last November.

Short and sweet

Thanks for those of you who sent wishes for our Corsa. As of yet there is no news. He is going in for more tests this week. We should have a clearer understanding of his health by next week. That said, it was a real joy to have my cousin and her girlfriend with us this past week, as my cousin is a vet, her partner is an animal ecologist... These ladies know animals and how to talk to people about them! The two of them were able to reassure us, and help us feel as though we were taking the right steps for our "boy-o".

Knitting? Well I plod along with Heather. I am marooned on freaking sleeve island. WHY!!! Why are backs and fronts so easy and sleeves are torture? I must admit that Heather has been a less than exciting knit. I need (erhm, I want) a camel colored sweater, but at what cost? Cleeves, Butterfly, countless other knits are passing me by and yet I plod along at Heather... Not to mention that I spent the weekend with a most adorable young person for whom I would knit the world!!! My next project will be a sweater for a young boy aged 3 - please send suggestions!

I am tired (in school all day), worried (about my pup) and most of all ready to read a book and call it a night (just my selfish self).

Please think good thoughts

Today our beloved Corsa had a bone biopsy. He is eight years old. I know some people might chide me for being so attached to our dog, but he is our child. I gave Corsa to my husband for his birthday almost eight years ago to the date. He was a crazy, anxious puppy, but all love. He is a constant and faithful companion.



We love him so.

Little Fuzzy Friends

I would like to introduce you to Mrs. Beeton, or at least my approximation of her warmness.



Both yarns I used are Rowan; Kid Silk in Majestic of course and the other is CashSoft (I threw away the tag!!!) with a little sparkle. I did not use beads. Why? Well, I'll tell you why, I was having an all out championship battle with Kid Silk. I threaded my beads, cast on my stitches and found that I had cast them on such that not even the Governor of California could budge them! I literally had to cut the cast on stitches off the needle. I tried again with a larger needle, same problem. So, as I am pretty much a newbie with this yarn I decided to try it solo without the added headache of the beading. The pattern is great fun (when you aren't fighting with your yarn). And, I have had more compliments on them. They are great conversation starters, just today I was asked about the cute sweater peaking out of my jacket, astonishment and mirth followed when I pulled off my Mrs. Beeton's.

I have enoooooooooooooooormous respect for those of you who have knit anything more than a tid bit with Kid Silk. A little bird told me that Gromit intends to knit Butterfly, I certainly say she deserves a gold medal for taking on that endeavor. (Ms. Gromit helped me translate the pattern into American knitting directions, and to my eternal shame I have yet to even attempt it, my shame is compounded by the fact that I have yet to repay her for her kindness!)

On another front was anyone else as deeply disappointed by the latest Interweave and the Vogue winter issue? Not a thing I was moved to knit. Frankly I think Knitty presents some of the most innovative and unique patterns I have seen in a long time.

Off to gnitt some more!

A meme, an excuse

It is past my bedtime. I have been neglecting my spouse in favor of finding appropriate nasty rap for pre show music for my upcoming show (and re-entry into the theatre world). I love my husband, but I am so keyed up I can't go to bed right now...

And so in an attempt to cool down before flinging myself into bed I was doing a little blog reading. Rabbitch has just completed a fun "meme" (yah yah I know all about the ME ME ness of the memes, and possibly I just wish that once I'd be tagged, but I know I have to participate, and POST, and KNIT...) so I grabbed it, cos its fun, and its late, and I need to blow off some steam...

4 Jobs I have held:
1. Deli worker (fired)
2. Stage Hand (contract work)
3. Petting zoo grunt - animal poop duty as well as feeding (loved it - moved)
4. Costume designer (still do when I get the chance)

4 Movies I'd watch over and over and over and over....
1. Franco Zefferelli's Romeo and Juliet
2. Julie Taymor's Frida
3. Persuasion
4. A Clockwork Orange

4 Shows I watch
1. Lost
2. 24
3. Rome
4. Arrested Development

4 Places I have lived
1. Chile
2. The Philipines
3. Spain
4. San Francisco, CA

4 Vacations
1. Waikiki (every Thanksgiving - with family - always wonderful)
2. Bocas del Toro, Panama (visit family - see post dated )
3. Bangkok (Biz trip for spouse, amazing time for me)
4. Italy (honeymoon, and can't wait to do it again)

4 Websites
1. Rabbitch
2. Supperstarra
3. Grommit Knits
4. Yahoo

4 Foods (and really must I???? This is ridiculous! ((despite the fact that I took on this "meme" myself))
1. really good sashimi, especially hamachi (of course with a nice daikon salad and a bowl of miso to start)
2. big, bloody New York steak with LOTS of horseradish
3. arugula salad with perfectly ripe bosc pears and toasted pecans
4. a nice smelly camenbert with a perfectly ripe Fuji apple and a rich, rich cab (ploughman's fantasy)
4. Duck
4. my mom's flan
4. Contents of most gourmet grocery stores....

4 Places I'd rather be
1. on a chaise, on a beach with a Mai Tai in hand
2. Via Spiga, Milan
3. Isla Bastimentos
4. in bed with spouse

Ca, c'est tout.

Knitting goes at its pace. I HATE Kid Silk, but that is another post, and will follow with pics in the next day or two.

PS If anyone has any suggestions for really nasty rap that is Latino and possibly with a female vocalist...I need 30 seconds worth.

Super Secret Project Revealed (better late than never)

I know that I had mentioned that I was working on a top secret project before Christmas. I had wanted to photograph it and post about it before we left on our trip. I did photograph it, but the photograph was hideous.So here it is in a more flattering light, sans body unfortunately, but well photographed.



And a slightly closer view of the cables. Very yummy! Spouse loves it, but it is almost too heavy to wear in our climate. We're just going to have to go skiing soon!




Details: Stocksmoor from Rowan's "A Yorkshire Fable"; knit in Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Chunky in Stout and String, on Crystal Palace Bamboo Circs. The pattern does not require circs, but it is a massive sweater and easier to control on circs. It was an easy knit (except that I had to knit it on the sly, and when caught one day I said it was a blanket... for my mother...), and I highly recommend the pattern. It is the first time that I have knit anything using the recommended yarn and the colors from the pattern book. Not surprisingly it turned out just as it looks! Yowza - might try that again. Oh, and may I just say, I am mad for cables!

I am trying my hand at these darling wristlettes, using stashed yarn. When I first started knitting I went on a mad spree of buying little bits of expensive yarns and as a result I have a pretty big stash of Kid Silk Haze and other mohair varietals, and yet not enough of any one to make anything significant. So a project like this is great. It will be my first attempt at using beads in knitting. Bring it on Mrs. B.

Sigh

Last week we were here...

Wizard's Beach on Bastimentos Cay in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama.

Now, with my blood thinned out by the heat and humidity I am too cold to knit! Actually my biggest problem is that I want something facinating to knit and I am stumped for ideas! Tomorrow I will work on this problema. For now I will enjoy my tan and dream of parrots.

¡Feliz Año a todos!