some crappy pics (FOs!!!!), amended yarn review, and some BIG NEWS!!!!

well, first the crappy pics. i still have a broken dica and don't even have the dica with me right now anyway, so you can instead behold the poor quality of my $450 camera phone. (i didn't pay that, of course, but that is truly what they retail for, what the crap.... you'd think i'd have a flash and like a jillion megapixels or whatever.) i digress. i'm posting 5 crappy pics of the same things just in case by some chance one is better than the other. i also do not have any photo editing software on this computer, so pardon me for the lack of cropping. ;-)


Ok, here's pair 1, made in Berroco Ultra Alpaca. In the background, you can see my new $9 bottle of laundry detergent. I am trying to go greener this year, as I think I've mentioned, and that one is "hypoallergenic, biodegradable, non-toxic and free of allergens, dyes, perfumes and petroleum-based solvents." In checking for a website to link you to, I found buying direct would be WAY cheaper and they have way more products. Sun and Earth I also got the dryer sheets which are really cool and even if you have no interest, you should click that because there's a demonstration photo of how they biodegrade in 21 days. They feel almost like wax paper out of the box, but then after tumbling with the clothes, feel more like a standard dryer sheet. What I really love about this stuff is it only has a very faint citrus smell, which is from the oils used in the products, not a fragrance. I love citrus anyway, but the really cool thing about it is when the clothes come out of the dryer, they don't smell... like they just smell like nothing, which I translate as smelling clean. I used to be a whore for smelly laundry products and lots of them, but I'm really enjoying the cleaning power and just fresh smell. OH! And it worked great for felting. :)

Ok, whoah, back to the pics.


another shot of those. something that i'm afraid is being missed in these shots is that those felted SO FREAKIN AWESOME, that is if you're into hairy felts, I guess. It looks like a muppet and I LOVE IT. I got Mmmmalabrigo to make a new pair for me, but I am altering that to use the leftover Pea Soup Mix I will have left over from the Kenobi jacket

Which brings me to the amended yarn review. I did my original yarn review on Berroco Ultra Alpaca just about a year ago now. I had mentioned replacing Cascade 220 for it because of its value, color range, and alpaca content, and I of course am going to go with that. This felted easily and beautifully into a firm and muppety-furry fabric that I adore, and the softness of the alpaca is not lost in felting at all. LOVE. LOVE LOVE. ok onto the next pair:

This pair is done with a combination of mmmalabrigo for the upper and inner sole and Cascade 220 Quatro for the outer sole. I can't find the colorway listed on Malabrigo's website for the upper, but it is pinks, orchids, and pearl, not that you can see from this shot. The inner sole and cuff is Pearl, and the outer is #5015.

I would really like to take better pics of these if I can before I gift them because this girl's set was like a color match made in heaven, if I do say so myself. That upper color really is gorgeous, one of those girls that made me pout and mutter "girls have all the fun." ;-) At least I got to knit it for someone else though.

And here' sa random other shot of the men's, not sure why. These are both Christmas gifts that have been mostly done for a long time, but I'm petsitting where there is a washer and dryer so finally got to felt them, and I am quite pleased with the results.

And now for the big news.... some of you probably have guessed, but I'M GETTING PUBLISHED!!!!!! I don't know what details I am permitted to share, so I am going to leave it at that for right now, but they accepted both of my submissions!!!!!!! This is so surreal and freakish for me at the same time... More than anything, I am just insanely tickled about some day seeing my name in print and sending an inscribed version to my mommy. Super exciting stuff and I am REALLY grateful for the opportunity!!!!

Ok, hope all of you are well!!!! I'll keep you posted on the design deets as I can.

-kb out

omg the onion

totally not knitting related, but i have NO idea how i've gone this long without knowing the onion. here's my current favorite clip, hope you enjoy: (I hate to even suggest such a thing, but the lovely Bird and the Bee can be paused over at the left)


Breaking News: Series Of Concentric Circles Emanating From Glowing Red Dot

just so you know i still live ;)

So, I've been insanely busy with new jobs and stuff and almost no time for crafts, but wanted to say 'hi' to everyone! :) I had to take some pics with the broken camera, but this is the only one that came out acceptable:

 

It's the Noro Kochoran that I got at the Yarn Gallery at 50% off. It was going to be Chambers from Simply Noro which I've been wanting to make for 100 years, but when I was swatching, I realized the halo of the angora kind of obscured the pattern (it called for Iro) so it is going to be Earnshaw instead. (it is photog'd on a man in the book, just FYI. ;-)) I'm happy with this. It's a neat pattern book and even better at 50% off! Glad I got it. I have many projects that are ahead of this one in priority, but this is a PERFECT I can't concentrate because I'm with other people, watching TV, talking on the phone, etc. pattern. I thought the stockinette would be infuriatingly boring, but I am grateful for it when the time is right, and it goes quickly.

In other news, Gnat talks about me a little in her latest podcast which you should totally check out. She just started and it's totally fun! She also inspired me to join Dogster and Catster, which you can link to in the sidebar.

also, i just submitted my VERY FIRST design submission for an upcoming book! i can't post pics, of course, but wish me luck! I will keep you all posted!

Ok, gotta run! Hope all is well out there!

- kb out

ETA: I am SO behind on blogging (once again) that I missed receiving my lovely Made My Day Award from dear Marce, which indeed made my day!

I gladly pass this award on to Chris, Gnat, Becka, darling KG, Kara, Manda, Sheryl, Earthchick, Del, the purloined letter, KnitPicking, Charles and I MUST givesiesbacksies to my dear, dear, Marce Thanks, love! :)

The rules of the award are : Give the award to 10 people (or more) whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times.