Poncho Smoncho

I finished the peachy poncho... of course the night before we left for Europe, thinking I would take it with to wrap up in...but am so sick of it I was totally disinterested when laying out my outfits to pack. I might end up giving it as a gift or something. It's alright looking...I think I've just moved on. It feels good to get it finished though. Oh, and the pattern is from Hollywood Knits. I started out doing my own thing, then found Suss's simple finishing technique and decided to use that...used a mohair.

I love presents!

What fun surprises...the day before I leave for my trip I get my Pinku Swap Partner gift...how awesome...Jess is from London. She made me some badges and some stickers of my scooter...and got me some pink hair clips, beautiful yarn and pink tissues. She's so good...love it all thanks girl! (Jess, send me your blog address again so I can thank you properly...I'm misreading the link...couldn't pull it up.)

I'm back home by the way...just getting everything organized...I have a lot to catch up on to tell you...so lots more photos to come.

mohair yarn from Pinku swap partner

Then when I get home from my trip I have my first treat from my Secret Pal 5 from New York. She so knows me...I got some Lush bath bombs...and am so excited about those, because when we were in Italy last week, I killed me to have to pass by a Lush store cause I was with two boys and they wouldn't stop to shop...yippie for me....I also got some now extinct gummies...and...

my very own handmade stitch markers ...love them...I was totally needing some pretty ones...plus I got a pretty little pocket to keep them in...You Rock Secret Pal...thank you!

cute huh?

If I don't get arrested...

for having knitting needles in my carry-on, this is what I'm gonna get started on while on the ride...

Weekend Knits - pie-shaped wrap - in a fushia mohair
Scarf Style - another capelet in a glittery black this time

Wish me luck! I've never had any trouble before but have heard other knitters got their stuff confiscated...yikes!

One more day.

One more day til we take off. I've been so productive this weekend...gotten so many things done for this trip...finished the peachy poncho (don't know if I will take it though), got lots of jewelry made to take / sell, washed clothes and underwear, prepared Ape for his visit to Grandma and Grandpa's, but have I packed yet? Uh, no. Tonight is the night. Tonight is the only night...yikes. I have everything kinda organized, just need to narrow it down...can't take 10 pairs of shoes on this trip...helmut takes up too much space. I will make it though...it makes me a nervous wreck not knowing what I will need for a trip like this and dealing with any weather circumstances. I have to take two of everything just in case.



I sent my Pinku Swap partners stuff off Friday and then Saturday, low and behold, I received mine in the mail from a rockin' girl named Jess from London. Oh, and she totally figured me out...I totally collect badges/buttons/pins (whatever you like to call them) I have them all over my scooter jacket. I think I'm obsessed. I'm taking some of mine that I got made to Europe to give out. Jess made me some cute ones.

When I get back I will post photos of the goodies she sent me...and a pick of the finished peachy poncho.

So, I don't think I will get to post anything while I'm gone...so will talk to ya at least by June 27. Ta! Ciao! Auf Wiedersehen!

I Rock

I finally made my little logo tags for Knitterista...use um and abuse um.

I totally scored

Check it out now...funk soul brotha!

I found these at a vintage store a scooter acquaintance just acquired. The old owners used to sell funky wigs and these guys aren't going to, so they aren't keeping the mannequins...rock on...there were only two retro ones, the rest were 70's style ugly...I got them both for 10 bucks. These sell on ebay for at least $60 each...and I've been wanting some forever to display my hats and jewelry. How hot are these!!! Yeah!

European Vacation - Rock On

This is us in exactly one week...whoo hoo. I can't wait. We will be riding around the Italian and Austrian country side on a scooter...awesome!!! I better get to packin'.

One more thing

I forgot to mention for my Secret Pal that I also collect and am addicted to serving trays and platters. I love the plastic ones especially that French Bull does. I don't know why I am so crazy about these damn things...but they are fun to look at and utilitarian at the same time. Love um'!

Cool stuff from Target


another from cb2...

This stuff is awesome!

Okay, don't laugh....I got some new foundation and it's totally from an info-mercial. I went hay-wire at the Ulta store this weekend. I have never been in there and it is pretty new, so I thought I would check it out to see if they had any decent products. It was similar to Sephora, but didn't have all the top brands...it did have a lot of nice stuff though and I was very impressed. I think I was in there at least 2.5 hours. I bought the ID Bare Escentuals foundation set (and I have set through the entire tv spot about it at an earlier date...you know how you get caught up in all that.).

Of course I had to run home and put on full make-up even though I was only hanging out with the dog that night. This sounds so cheesy, but my face was luminescent...no lie. I love this stuff. It is all powder based and is so easy and my skin looks very natural. I can't believe I bought it and I can't believe it is so awesome. I even wore it all day in the hot sweaty sun (then rain) on our shopping/scooting ride. And I still looked hot afterward. I am endorsing this stuff, it works and everyone should use it...no kidding.

I have a busy little weekend ahead of me...

The girls (me and Toni) of Sputnik Scooter Club have organized an All Girls Shoppin' & Scootin' Ride for lady riders. The gang is going to dress up vintage for the ride (Hopefully we'll look as hot as Audrey below - love that pic from Roman Holiday). We're going to go all over town and buy stuff. It will be fun. Stopping at vintage shops and shoe, clothing and gift shops then stopping off for a cocktail to top off the day. I hope a lot of new faces show up. Atomic Brown Scooter Shop is loaning me one of their twist-n-go's that has a big delivery box on the back so I can carry everyone's packages. Even if it's just the 6 of us Sputnik girls, it will be a blast.


I have been a free woman the past few days and through the weekend. J.D. is in Cleveland, Ohio for Amerivespa...he has worked so hard putting that event together...they had over 300 preregister. He was pretty pumped about that.

So this weekend consists of: giving Ape a vallum so I can clip his toenails, going on the ride, going to a friend's art opening reception and am having the girls over for Sex and The City / pedicure party night. We used to get together every week to watch the dvd's, since not everyone has seen the show all the way through (including me) then we got all busy and stuff, but I'm wanting to watch it so I'm throwing the bash...will be fun...am picking up the cosmo fixin's tonight as well as Mediterranean Deli apps. Woo Hoo.

RANDOM PUG CUTENESS

This absolutely cracks me up...my boy doesn't sit like this, but I've seen many of them striking the pose...they sit like humans...bizarre.

If your friend jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?

Well, duh...when it comes to the Secret Pal 5. Everyone is doing it...so I had to do it too...gotta hang out with all the cool kids! What fun! There are over 500 knitters participating...wow. I love Pinku's swaps, so had to do this one too.




Here are my answers to the Secret Pal 5 Quiz - Warning: I'm a little long winded, but I'm sure you will find it all so fascinating (Hope this helps my pal out):

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
Well, I suppose I kind of am a yarn snob…but I’m also snobby about paying full price for the good yarn. If I’m making something big, like a sweater that calls for a ton of yarn…and the yarn is not on sale, I might as well buy something already made from the mall that I can afford. I really don’t like the feel and “cheapness” of Red Heart etc. brands cause they just don’t look or feel as nice. I tend to stay away from that stuff.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I have good intentions on learning how to do both…have the books ready to go anyway.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
I recently became aware that I am allergic to cats and don’t really care for the scent they leave on you.

4. How long have you been knitting?
I have been knitting for 3 years full time…but knitted and crocheted when I was a youth…just need a refresher on the crocheting.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I do have an Amazon wish list – see my blog link.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I like lavender, vanilla and citrus scents

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Oh my goodness do I! I’m not a giant chocolate fan as apposed to sugary things, but do like an occasional Snickers or M&M’s, etc. I’m addicted to those tropical flavored Certs and usually only get them on vacation cause the only place I can find them is at convenience stores. My favorite dessert is Crème Brule – just got a kit for Christmas. I like cookies with milk too.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I am so surprised that I have been into knitting for so long because I tend to go from one type of craft project to another fairly rapidly. I guess I accomplish one thing and then am done with it usually. I do everything from jewelry to photography, home décor, feng shui, embroidery, painting, whatever…I can pretty much do it. I’d rather do things myself and “do it right” than pay someone else a ton of money.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I have a pink mini i-pod…and like a lot of different things…not really into country, classical, heavy metal, hard rock or rap, but pretty much anything else is fun. I love 80’s music. I like alternative/indy stuff and dance music. Listening to Franz Ferdinand, Le Tigre, Ian Moore, Aimee Mann, Carina Round, Mono and PJ Harvey.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
My fave color is hot pink or fuchsia or turquoise blue or emerald green. I wear a lot of black. I like jewel tones and the fall season. I can’t stand yellow, especially golden-rod…yuck.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married for 3 ½ yrs. and have a one year old pug, Ape Carlino (Ah-pey)

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
Oh my goodness – I will just say, I’d rather be at home with a flexible schedule instead of working full time at a job I’m really not in to. That would give me the time to travel with my husband. I want to run my jewelry/knitwear business full time and help my husband with his many endeavors as well.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I really like the Blue Sky Alpaca…it is so so so soft and full.I guess I like mostly natural fibers in any form.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I can’t stand eyelash yarn with all those fake colors…gross. It's so cheesy!

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Capelets, lapblankets, ponchos, boleros – anything that wraps or goes around the shoulders - great accessories

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I like things that are fairly easy… Scarves, wraps, hats…that don’t take a lot of thought and planning and reference to intricate patterns. I will and can do the more detailed things, but not as often. I prefer things I can do while riding in a car or watching tv.

17. What are you knitting right now?
a lap blanket, shawl and baby hats

18. What do you think about ponchos?
I actually like ponchos. I tend to be cold and they wear like a blanket and keep me warm. I like the way they look on if they are a stylish pattern, not the trendy crappy ones that anyone could buy at Walmart or the mall.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I heart my Denise circular needle set.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
And, I also heart my size 13 US bamboos…faves…they are what I learned on and are perfect for most scarves. I hate aluminum needles…too slippery for me.

21. Are you a sock knitter?
When I first learned to knit, I started so I could make socks, cause they also had these cool see-through plastic shoes that you could wear to show off your makes, but now I really am not interested. I’m having so much fun with the apparel, etc. and still haven’t learned how to make socks.

22. How did you learn to knit?
I knitted at a young age, but it had been so long I had forgotten everything. So, I took a quick class at my LYS and it took off from there. I’ve bought most of the knitting books that exist and have taught myself all other stitches and patterns as needed.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
3 months - lap blanket

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I love my pug baby…I also like butterflies and ladybugs and bumble bees. Of course Hello Kitty is awesome!

25. What is your favorite holiday?
I like my birthday and my anniversary and any holiday that gets me out of work

26. Is there anything that you collect?
hello? I’m learning to stop with the collecting…it’s crazy. I have got to get rid of stuff. I collect snow globes only from places my husband and I travel to. I try to get sterling charms for my charm bracelet – don’t have any knitting or pug related ones yet. I also kind of collect linen kitchen towels, shoes, handbags, vintage ceramic or modern glass vases and am obsessed with anything hot pink. I am also in love with fashion & home décor magazines. I can’t get enough.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don’t have any subscriptions…just buy one every now and then if I like the patterns.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
As far as knitting goes:Loop-d-Loop, Vintage Knits, Missoni (Made in Italy) and 365 Knitting Stitches a Year Perpetual Calendar