The feats and foibles of a fiber fanatic.
8/24/2005
It has been a year since I broke out on my own and began teaching my online art and creativity classes through my own web site. To celebrate, I’m offering up to $30 off the 315th order placed (I’m currently just shy of 300 orders) through my shopping cart system! This includes my on-line classes as well as my original artwork, photographic prints and knitting patterns (gift certificates excluded)!
The next term of classes begins October 5th and will wrap up around the beginning of the busy holiday season. This will be the last term of classes until February 2006! Any classes that do not have enrollments by September 7th with be cancelled. So, if there is a class you’ve been especially looking forward to I suggest enrolling as soon as possible!
You can choose from 6 of my 8 classes - Printmaking for the Home Studio, Bodacious Backgrounds, Techniques in Altered Books, Intro to Collage Design, Creative Color, and Intermediate Bookbinding. If you haven’t taken any of my classes before I recommend checking out the FAQ at http://www.designedlykristi.com/classes/faq.html
For your chance at being the 315th order, head to http://www.designedlykristi.com/shoppingcart and place your order for classes, art, photos or knitting patterns now!
I’ll return to the regularly scheduled knitting and spinning topics tomorrow, but I’m too busy celebrating today 
7/8/2005
While it is noon here, I assure you I put the names in a hat last night and had DH draw one this morning before he headed of to work and me to water aerobics.
So, the winner is…
Fellow Mile High Knitter, Leisel!
She submitted the caption of “Baa-aad hair day” for pic #3, there were some other great suggestions as well. For example, “I’m so horney!” for the last photo was submitted by Jacey. The curly haired Maus wrote, “no, its NOT a perm” about #3 which I know my sister would totally appreciated. “Aw come on, Sugar! Gimme a kiss!” for #1 was coined by Rossanna. Thanks guys for the laughs!
Leisel, just e-mail me (knittingfool (AT) designedlykristi (DOT) com) with your mailing address and I’ll get your secret prize out to you early next week! Yeah!
Spinning has been pushed aside a bit this week in hopes of managing pain levels, but it has gotten me to pick up and begin the Shaped Triangle once again. I’m only about two repeats past where I was back this spring when I last posted a picture so I’ll spare the bandwidth for the moment. But it seems to be going along a bit better. But, I’m using a lifeline just in case
Hopefully next week will bring blog worthy knitting and spinning to share before I leave on my trip to Minnesota. Speaking of my trip, if anyone knows of some good yarn/fiber shops in the central or western Twin Cities Metro or in West Central Minnesota near Willmar, Redwood Falls, Alexandria, St. Cloud etc. Let me know!
7/1/2005
I like to think I’m clever and amusing, but I think it is actually quite a rare occurence for me, so I’m enlisting your help!
Please submit any and all pithy, amusing, clever or humorous captions you can think of for any of the following images. Just leave a comment with the number corresponding to the image and your caption. You may submit as many as you like.
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5. 
See larger versions or color version of the B&Ws here.
On July 18th (next Friday), I’ll put all the names of those who joined the fun into a hat and draw a winner. I won’t tell you what the prize is, but it’ll be fun. I promise! Everyone who submits ideas will qualify, including anyone from SnB etc…
Let the games begin!
6/10/2005
To make up for yesterday, I have pictures!
Here is picture proof that am now indeed dressing to match my socks. In fact, Amanda wanted to ask me where my purple headband was when she came to SnB on Monday and I was wearing the get up. Someone, please tell me that I do not need a second pair of Crocs in purple just to go with this obnoxiously loud outfit?!?!?!?!?
Then, on Wednesday, I had this lovely little box awaiting my pick up at my PO Box. I wasn’t expecting anything so I had no idea what it was the name and address didn’t look too familiar to me. However, when I opened it up, I squealled with delight…
Inside was this lovely little coffee-themed coin purse made by Sonja of Georgia. She sent it to me filled with one of my all time favorite candies - Andies Mints along with a lovely thank you letter thanking me for posting the instructions on how to carry a stitch pattern down the heel flap for clog or sandal socks. Thank you so much Sonja! I’m in awe of the lovely dainty zipper as putting zippers in anything has always scared me, let alone to put in such a small zipper in such a small item - wow!
On Tuesday I had a hair cut appointment down in Loveland in the morning (don’t ask - let’s just say I spend another $35 this morning) and DH’s car went back into the shop (after being there last Tuesday) and was there until last night I might add and goes back for yet more testing next Wednesday *sigh* But I try to make lemonade from lemons whenever I can. So, I stopped into one of my favorite LYSs, Woolen Treasures. I bought more sock appropriate needles - US 2 and US 3 short Bryspuns and 2 16″ US0 Addi Turbo’s to try the two circ method that Snow is always raving about. But, upon the success of Heatwave, I picked up some more Fixation. The multi-color one is subdued enough and more manly colors that I’m hoping to talk DH into occassion wearing socks other than his dress socks when he wears shorts The sage green will be mine (of course) and perhaps the toes of DH’s if need be.
I’ve also been playing around with a few things this week since I finished Heatwave. Though I’ve only been doing so rather late at night while trying to watch the last few episodes of X Files season 1 so it hasn’t been entirely successful. Can you guess what it is going to be when it grows up? Those at SnB on Monday are not eligible. But, if you’ve been reading my blog for a while you’ll likely have a good idea of what it is. Anyone who guesses correctly will be put into a drawing next Friday morning and will recieve a goodie from me.
6/2/2005
It’s been nearly a month since I’ve reported on the knit-a-longs here…
Myself, I have just not been in a lace knitting mood, or at least not in a “read a chart” lace knitting mood so I’ve made NO progress whatsoever on my Shaped Triangle Shawl.
However, we’ve had several additions to the participant list for the Gathering of Lace Along in the last month, so don’t forget to check out their blogs. Not to mention, Melissa M has completed two projects, the Super Spiral Shawl and the Feather and Fan Shawl for her grandmother. She’s not stopping there, she is already working on Frost Flowers! She definitely gets the blue ribbon for most projects!
Also, don’t miss the progress photo of Amy’s Frost Flowers that will serve as a huppah for her brother’s wedding (what a cool idea)! Her blog is brand new, so stop by and say hi to her!
As far as Spearfish Madness, people are still trucking a long and we’ve even had a few recent additions over there as well. The biggest news is that Clemintine did indeed make her deadline to have them done to gift to her BF’s mother for Mother’s Day. This week we had another completed pair added to the line up, this pair of Spearfish socks are a fun “coordinating” pair from Paula.
Both of these KALs are low-key, low-pressure KALs so you are welcome to join either one. There are directions on the pages for each on how to join in.
5/4/2005
After a week or so slump, the Spearfish blog is alive and thriving this week, with Ann finishing her pair of socks, before Anita in their own private race. Paula and Clementine each have one sock completed and are on their way on the second sock. Clementine has set a goal for Sunday evening, as she is going to gift them to her BF’s mum! Good luck, Clementine!
In the Gathering of Lace Along we have some new members - some new to lace, some veterans. We’re at ten people total, including myself and my co-host, Snow. Some are still swatching and choosing yarns or patterns. Others are incredibly frustrated It isn’t too late to join the fun! I’ve been so focused on Skyway Scoop that I haven’t gotten any farther on my Shaped Triangle.
Speaking of Skyway Scoop - she looks the same as yesterday (just scroll down), except perhaps the stitches along the neck line are a little stretched out. I knit on the neckline (all ~45-46 inches around) only to rip it last evening. I was devastated, but I was having an incredibly crappy day. Thanks to helpful suggestions and kind words from friends I’m doing better today. Though I may leave Skyway Scoop in the time out corner for today and focus on getting the pattern written up, properly sketched electronically and extrapolated into the other sizes. Just let myself calm down further. I’m still a little wound up from yesteday’s goings on…
I did take a little field trip to Target yesterday to pick up Gilmore Girls Season 3 and did a little impulse shopping/retail therapy. Spring Squatty found a friend…
It looks so good! It is smaller than my previous tri-fold wallet that was black and stuck out like a sore thumb as it sort of peaked out. This one tucks in completely and coordinates with the bag. Plus, it has a large section that has all kinds of accordioned sections so I can sort out all those frequent shopper cards etc. I also love the detail in the zipper pulls. They had a lot of really cute and compact wallets/coin purses in fun spring colors.
Also, while there, I saw that Debbie Macomber’s book, The Shop on Blossom Street was out in paperback and 25% off MSRP, so I picked that up as well. By bedtime, the day had sucked so bad that I couldn’t make myself read the book club book, so I decided I deserved reading something I enjoyed and before I knew it was 100 pages in! There will be more over in Culture Catalog in the next few days probably.
Lastly, much thanks to Margene for bestowing the honor of “Zen Blog of the Week” - my stats have gone through the roof! I some of you peeking in here will come back!
4/21/2005
Okay, I already posted easrlier that the A Gathering of Lace KAL is official. So far there are only three of us so there is plenty of room for you too!
I cast on for my Shaped Triangle on Tuesday, but yesterday had me away from home at DH’s work most of the day and not feeling real well aftwards and today has been crazy, so I’m only at row 16. But, it is a start and I can say that I am liking my Helen’s Lace and I think it will look quite lovely. So far there doesn’t appear to be much in the way of pooling, flashing or striping (crosses fingers that the trend continues). I’ll have a pic when there is more worth photographing.
I suppose now that I’m knitting a real shawl it’ll be time for me to finally purchase some blocking wires, huh? Man, this has been quite the week for becoming an adult knitter! LOL!
On the Spearfish KAL front, we have another pair of completed Spearfish in handpainted Opal, this time in a turquiose colorway. Check them out, and congratulate Azhar on her beautiful socks!
Remember, the contest portion has been won, so the pressure is off and it is now an ordinary KAL. So, if you have the Spearfish pattern join us at http://designedlykristi.typepad.com/spearfishmadness
4/11/2005
Just in case you missed all the excitement over at Spearfish Sock Madness over the weekend, we have two completed pairs! One pair of redish ones in a handpainted Opal sock yarn and a pair of blue ones in Trekking XXL! Cece was the official winner, coming in just a couple hours ahead of Shannon (another fellow CO knitter). Go check them out and congratulate them! The WIP Spearfish look great as well. Now, it is officially a KAL rather than a contest. So, the pressure is off and you many join us to go Spearfishing at any time!
I am impressed at how the lace elements are standing up against the handpainted or multi-color sock yarns. Perhaps I will use that Bearfoot I had bought to use for my own pair of Spearfish that ended up being a much darker yarn that I had thought…
The tea and yarn shopping was great on Saturday and I’ll report more about that later. In other news, it is Stitch ‘n Bitch night tonight! We hope to see you there
knittingfool @ 9:23 am ::
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4/5/2005
Because I could not in good conscience make yet another post without a NEW picture, I present to you, 1/2 of a Squatty Sidekick from Avant Knits. Now, if you aren’t currently having hand/wrist issues this is a really quick knit because it will ultimately be fulled. It is totally adorable! Don’t let my slightly garish colors scare you! If you are in the area, her original rosy one is on display at Woolen Treasures.
Alas, yesterday way was first quater sales tax book keeping day for me, along with finishing my long procrastinated book club research, so there was no knitting for me yesterday. That was probably ultimately goos as I think that was the first day since this last flare that I can honestly say I didn’t not pick up the needles at all.
Since I’m posting today you can see I wasn’t lynched at book club last night. Though I have to say it was the smallest turn out this year I think, with only 5, not including myself and the librarian who heads it up. I’ll be posting about it later today, if you wish to follow the link there on the left to my book LJ.
The Speafishing Heats Up!
We’ve had a pretty exciting begining to the Spearfish contest! The farthest progress photo I’ve seen is Shannon, who evidently had a bout of insomnia and is well into the instep now. Cece has wrapped up the lacy cuff and with her jet set life I’m sure is much farther. I know there are a few others who have cast on, but aren’t sharing pictures yet. And, in case you missed the excitement over the weekend, Ann and Anita have a little side bet going. This is definitely not a boring contest by any means!
knittingfool @ 9:32 am ::
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4/1/2005
Well, it is certainly spring around these parts - drastic temperature and overall weather changes take a toll on me. Then, I’m in overachiever mode and working myself 12 hours a day all week long. Sometimes being your own boss isn’t all it is cracked up to be
So, I’m afraid I’m kind of lacking in the knitting department at the moment. I had planned to make a pattern designed by Amanda (is it okay to give our your URL yet?) yesterday. It’s an adorable little felted purse that is a real quick project and I happened to have just the yarn I needed in my stash etc. However, when I got puppy food for dear Emma yesterday I must have grabbed it oddly and it tweaked out my wrist and the tendinitis is acting up so I did no knitting. 
However, it does seem that Stephanie aka Yarn Harlot has made an appearance in Ft. Collins! Yep, I got a copy of her new book, At Knit’s End at Barnes & Noble last night. I’ve only skimmed it a bit, but it looks to be as witty and enjoyable as her blog. And, I love the size - it’s so portable!
Also, due to my wrist issues yesterday and today I’m a little behind in adding the participants for 
, but I’ll be doing an update later this afternoon. Don’t forget, to qualify you need to sign-up so you have posting access to the blog, as the first to post their completed PAIR to the blog will be the winner! Good luck!
knittingfool @ 1:03 pm ::
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