Holy crappers! An FO!!1!

I guess I've been more distracted with the move than I thought. Looking on my Ravelry I noticed that I haven't had a proper knitted FO since the end of April.

I've had many false starts with new projects but they have all pretty much been thrown in the FAIL pile (Bloody Flesh Scarf, anyone?). This project I would pick up work like a fiend for a bit, get bored, try another project and then come back to it. It was a very quick knit and I'm sure I could have finished it much sooner. But I didn't. In it's defense it's not a boring knit. (It's me, Vine Lace Vest, not you!)

VINE LACE VEST

Started: May 20, 2008
Completed: July 22, 2008
Pattern:Vine Lace Vest by Cecily Glowik
Yarn: Fibranatura Mermaid
Color: Turkish Tile
Skeins: 5
Needles: 4mm(6US) & 5.5mm (9US) Knitpicks Options
Notes: Didn't make any modifications and the yarn seemed to be a near perfect substitution. Although my picked up stitches around the back of the neck look slightly like ass.

Thanks to Amy for her mad photo skillz (even though I don't know how to put on a vest) and The Purple Purl for letting me get "fierce" in their store.

You know you're about to move when...

all your knitting supplies are packed up.

Friday night's Knitty Rountable - space available

I understand that a few spots have opened up at Knitty's Yarn Roundtable this Friday (July 25th). Call the Purple Purl to secure a seat at 416-463-1162!

Garage sale - Saturday 9am-2pm

Since I still don't have a place to live in SF, I decided to have a garage sale. The fun is happening this Saturday (the 19th) between 9am and 2pm. There will be lots of stuff. Come by and say hi and help me lighten my load. Sadly, there will be no yarn for sale. Thankfully (for me) that is light and fairly easy to carry.

SF ticket bought...

Look out San Francisco, I'm heading your way August 1st.

Now to jam all the fun stuff I can here in Toronto and still get everything ready for the movers in time.

Free to help me this Saturday?

I was thinking of having a garage sale buuuuuuut all my peeps who thought they could help when I initially hatched the plan are all now unavailable. Is there anyone who could help me on Saturday from like 8-2? I'll buy you lunch!

Last chance to improve your knitting/crafting/blog photography!

EDIT: I think all typos are fixed. I think?

For the final time, Michelle and I will be teaching our Improve your (Knitting) Photography class at In The Loop Café on Sunday, July 27th.

The official class description is below and if you're interested give In The Loop a holler at 416-652-1024 to reserve a spot. Class size is limited. Hope to see you there!

Do you wish you took better photos of your knitting? Are you tired of washed out, blurry pictures of projects that you put hours and hours of hard work into? Are you confused by the buttons and features on your digital camera? Do you feel like your friends point and laugh at the photos you post to your blog or Ravelry account?

Take your knitting photography to the next level with this introductory course in basic photography techniques. Anyone can learn to take beautiful photos of their knitting and other craft projects, and you don't need a fancy or expensive camera to do it! In this hands-on course you will learn the basics of:

* Composition
* Lighting
* Focus

Bring your camera, the user manual (if possible) and a small knit project or two to practice on.

A looooong overdue thank you...

So I've been on the coast and in the desert of So. Cal. to help my employer with some riveting market research for the last week which has made it virtually impossible to blog about the most aweseomest par-tay. The coolest thing? It was for me!!

On July 4th (how fitting, eh?), the knitters of Toronto gave me an amazing send off at The Purple Purl organized by the delightful Lady Lung Doc. The party wasn't a surprise (especially since my work threw a wrench into the party cogs) but I have to say the turnout was. I really felt the love. And the biggest surprise? The community afghan! I didn't take any photos but Michelle has a great recap (and the most adorable picture of me that I've seen in a long time... ok, maybe ever).

There was lots of almost crying from me. I was proud that I was able to keep it together enough that I didn't start blubbering all over the place.... cuz that's what I do when I'm met with any type of happy/sad emotional situation... the waterworks start. I hope that everyone that was there felt the love back. I am so happy that I found this amazing group of folks. You are seriously some of the nicest people I have ever met. I'm devastated that I'm leaving such an amazing community. I am seriously going to miss EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!!!!!! As I've said before (and I really mean it) you are all welcome to crash on my couch/Aerobed® when we have a place to call our own - which at this moment feels like never but that is another post for another time.

A giganto shout out goes to the Lady Lung Doc herself. (Wootwoot!) Check out her flickr set of the afghan and if you contributed a square than make a note on one of the close up shots she's got going. I want to know who did what square(s)!

Also a big thanks goes out to Jen and Miko for always making the Purple Purl the most welcoming place on earth.

And hugs to everyone who came to the party!

Ok, now I'm gonna go cry. But it's a good cry, I promise! *sniff!*

PS: If you're in TO, I'm hosting my last knitting at the HOS on Sunday (the 20th). Drop me a note if you need the deets.

Happy Fourth of July!!

As many of you know I'm an American living in Canada, so even though this pic wasn't technically taken on the fourth or in America it is still fireworks. And I love the fireworks. It's great that I can celebrate two fireworks happy holidays in a weeks span - even if one of them is in spirit.

Happy (belated) Canada Day!