Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Today is my birthday, and I am so excited!!!

Last year, at this time I was recovering from a visit to the Emergency Room, and on pain medicine. I was on bedrest for 1 week, and I managed to make some really good progress on my Central Park Hoodie.

This year, I am still working on the second Central Park Hoodie that was supposed to be finished by Thanksgiving, but you know how life gets in the way. LOL!!!

I have much to celebrate, and have accomplished many of my goals during the past year. Some of them being - establishing myself as a businesswoman, creating my own logo/banner, becoming the female lead singer in a band, creating my own knitting pattern, and spending more quality time with family and friends.

I have managed to go over 100 days without buying yarn. Gasp!! I didn't think it was possible. Although my FO count is still low, but hey that is a work in progress. However, I am still stashbusting.

I have given myself some new goals. I am going to finish my Nutkins this week. There I have said it!! I also joined Ravelympics as part of the Sit N Knit NYC team. I will be doing the "Sweater Sprint" and the"Sock Put". Hey, if I can get at least one "medal" for the competition I will be happy. My socks will also simultaneously count for Summer of Socks 08. I will be working on the Gathered Pullover from Interweave. So, opening ceremonies takes place in 17 days, and then I have 17 days to make a sweater and a sock. Whoo!!! Pressure!!! LOL!! So, I will try my best to knock out some UFO's in the next 17 days.

Speaking of UFO's..... here is my pair of Nutkins-in-progress.

Just a few more inches on the foot to go, before I get to the toe shaping.

As far as more birthday celebration plans go, I will be going to a Thai restaurant for dinner with some friends. The food at this place is awesome, so I will definately be providing pictures later on.

Also, I want to send some love out to my twin Jeanine whose birthday is also today. Happy Birthday!!! I haven't seen her since our Christmas gift exchange. Shame on me!! We need to link up girl!!

Hooked on Glitter Alpaca

I decided to frog the hat from the previous post, and start all over again. This time, I followed the instructions properly. I would like to thank Chante for watching my every move and making sure that I did everything correctly. I am sure that Deborah is excited as well. So, here is my progress. I completed all of the increase rounds, with a perfect stitch count of 96. Woohoo!! So, now I just have to knit 6 rows as the pattern states, plus an extra 3 as per Deborah's request. She wants the hat to cover her ears, and I don't blame her. New York is still experiencing a little chill.

Also, I did a little shopping. I was trying to keep this a secret but I couldn't. I bought sock yarn from Seaport Yarn. A friend of mine had a negative experience there, and I told her that I would just look and for her sake, not buy... because I would vicariously hold her grudge for the malady that had occured in the past. But..... the yarn fumes swarmed me, and I couldn't breathe... the next thing I remember, I was leaving with a shopping bag. Sorry....I just couldn't control it. It was overbearing.

Acquerello, a new addition at the Seaport. Wait does that tag say 436 yards?? Do I see really high socks in my future that I can wear with my boots next winter? Any pattern ideas??? I am thinking "Queen of cups", but I feel that I may be able to get away with something a bit longer.

This is Raphael. I have been looking at him for a long time, and I just had to have him in my stash. Not sure what pattern he will be paired up with just yet, but I know that he is a keeper.

Next up, is my Knitpicks stash addition.

Since I bought the 2-at-a-time sock book, I figured that I would buy 40 inch circulars from sizes 0 to 3 just in case I have to make an emergency sock. I do have a lot of sock yarn in my stash, and need to get rid of it. I also got the needle tips in sizes that I was missing. One will be used for my Gathered Pullover once I decide to cast on (hurry up and get other sweater off of the cord).

Here are some more skeins of sock yarn. I plan on making some Jaywalkers. The pattern can be downloaded from Ravelry, since Magknits has ceased its operations. Thank GOD for Ravelry!!! The colorways are Mixed Berries and Firefighter.

I always wanted to make a variegated pink shawl. Now I have just the yarn to do it. Not sure what pattern it will be just yet. I love this colorway, and the fact that it was on clearance makes it even better.

Here is a blast from the past. My Central Park Hoodie #2 WIP. I am almost finished with the back. Just a few more rows to go before the shoulder shaping. I want to try to wear this before it gets too hot in New York. I know, it was supposed to be completed by last Thanksgiving, and I was on the monogamous knitting road for a while, but my Knitting GPS wasn't working, so I had to reset the battery. Now I am somewhat on track again.

So, the day I made my last yarn purchase was on April 2nd. I will attempt to go 100 days without buying yarn. My stash needs to be trimmed, and I don't feel like giving anything up, so I will be knitting like a fiend, as long as time permits. So far it has been 8 days. OMG!!! I feel like I am on one of those 12 step programs. LOL!!! How many FO's can I have in 100 days?? Let's see.

My new addiction is Pinkberry. My favorite concoction this week is original with pineapple, coconut, and mango. It remind me of fun times in Trinidad swirled with healthy goodness. I have made a knitting date with Saunielle to go to The Point this friday. Now, I feel as if no trip to The Point is complete without a short walk to Pinkberry. I can't wait!!!

Rhinebeck Spoils!!!

Spoils..hmmm that is a word that describes what you get after a war, when you loot and plunder the loser's terrain. Well, after this fiber frenzy, my body felt like it had gone through a war. Between no sleep, seaming, eating nothing but junk food, carrying heavy bags of yarn, and dodging people while still trying to work my way through the crowd as politely as I can, without knocking anybody out. ...Sheesh...Rhinebeck was hard work.

Here are the Spoils. And spoil myself I did. But don't worry. I got a few things for the people that I care about the most.

So, let's start from the beginning.

I drove to Kingston on Friday night and Sauniell and I shared a room at the Super 8. I toiled through the night, working on my Cenral Park Hoodie, because I felt that it was imperative that I wear it on Saturday. So, I sucked up my seaming issues, and just dit it until I got it to look perfect.

Here it is!!! This picture was taken at the festival.

Here are some more pics taken with my lovely blog family. I was so happy to see everyone. I met some of my "family members" for the first time, and we hugged and screamed like we knew each other for years. This knitting thing really has a way of bringing people together.

Me, Necia, RosiG, Jeanine, Tawana, and Sauniell.Monica, Kim, Me, and Yvonne
Me and Tawana, wearing our fabulous Central Park Hoodies!

Maribel, Chante, Nancy, and Me!

Me, Baby Cashew, and Ann-Marie. This picture does no justice to this child's beauty. Her eyes are soooooo gorgeous. She just made me melt when I saw her.

Jess and Casey from Ravelry. It was so cool to meet the people that changed the internet life of knitting as we know it. Thanks a bunch guys!

So, I have officially added way too much to my stash and will be knitting forever. Hey, at least I will be happy doing it. Hehe!!

Socks that Rock - Cobalt Bloom, Boysenberry, Autumn, Rocky Horror, Mustang Sally

Aussi Sock - Silver Anniversary, Faded Valentine

Brooks Farm - Four Play, Solana

Briar Rose Fibers - Sonoma

Here is the progress of my second Central Park Hoodie. Here is about 10 inches of progress.

Ravelry .. Woohoo!!

I FINALLY got my invite for Ravelry. Why do I always feel like the last one to get put on to new things? Anyways, I am so happy!! Woo hoo!! So, people check out my stash... wait I haven't finished uploading everything yet. Check out my WIP's and my queue. Check out everything. Ravelry rocks!!!!