The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. That is the tune I have on my cell phone when anyone from my doctor's office calls me. Why? Isn't it self-evident. Whenever I get any kind of news it's one of the three. Rarely the first, but sometimes it is good. I had some good news, and I am happy with that. In the meantime, I was able to knit my little heart out while in the waiting room for my 2 appts yesterday. Unfortunately, during the second one, I didn't know they were going to dilate my eyes. You can't do anything when they do that, except blink madly and pray that the funky swollen feeling goes away before you are thrust back into the sunshine where you are further blinded.

I am almost done with my white camisole I am making for my friend Franki. Franki is the lead singer for the punk/alternative band, Franki and the Broken Toys. You can visit their site at http://www.myspace.com/brokentoybox



I thought she'd like something a little frilly to wear for the summer. Luckily, Franki's measurements are almost identical to my dress form (with the addition of a larger cup size). I have the lining and fastening the back to complete.



Hopefully, I will have it completed by tonight. I have other projects planned for my god-daugthers. I think a wrap-around for when they go to the beach. Which, considering they live only 10 minutes bike ride from the ocean, is often. I'm just not sure whether to make it knee length or full length.

Eventually I will figure out what to make myself this summer. I have some blue cotton/angora from Debbie Bliss that I want to make into something. I just don't know what. I made a scarf out of some of the stuff, but it shed like a mother...
I figure with extensive use the shedding will stop, but I love the way it feels after it's been used for awhile.

My aunt has finally decided that we need to move all the stuff out of her home, and my very neurotic mother wants to make sure that her 20 phone calls a day to make sure that I have Saturday the 9th reserved. I'm not sure now...I think it will take at least 30 phone calls to assure that space is reserved. ARGHHH! I'm amazed I didn't come through life this far without developing a massive obsessive/compulsive complex of some sort. Fortunately, I am too laid back to allow that to happen.

Well, I'm off to see if my neon green wool yarn has come in. I am making an Oscar the Grouch felted backpack for my friend, and the perfect green is needed, or else Oscar will look like he is washed/faded out, and we can't have a grump being faded.

Later!

HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY!
I finally got to meet my nephew. Being that he is entering puberty, I was fearful that he may have become one of those horrid little children that many of today's parents can't control. Loe and behold, he is an incredible, smart, funny and sensitive child who I adore. It's weird. I expected to see so much of my brother in him, and to my utter shock, found that he has more of me in him. The way he laughs, the way he squints when he tries to concentrate on something, the way he covers his mouth when he laughs hysterically, and how he bounces his head when he's inpatient. Not to mention, he has all of my hobbies and habits (minus the knitting). Way cool. We are going to "GO A YARNING"....somewhat like the vikings, on how they "went a vi-king". He's going to go pick out his yarn for his keep sake blanket.

I have two god-daughters, Bryanna (12) and Kirsten (10) whom have been almost like my own children since they were born. Although Jake (11 in August) is my nephew, I have no experience around him, and loads with the girls. I was so fearful that they wouldn't get along. But, alas, my fears were truly unfounded. Bree and Jake got along like brother and sister, and are convinced they are related a.k.a. god-cousins. I don't think this term exits, but somehow they have managed to create it.



I had a phenomenal time with my nephew and got along superbly with his mother, mother's boyfriend, sister and sister's niece. Awesome people!! Sometimes we all wish for an expansion in the family and end up getting nightmare in-laws, but I got lucky. (Well, I have nightmare in-laws, but won't go down that path, I didn't bring bug repelant).

I tried to start knitting a few different projects and have found myself ripping the stitches around 2 1/2 inches into whatever I start. It's frustrating. I don't know if others are like me, but if it doesn't SING out to me while I'm working on it, I will rip it. I'm almost done with my ETZEL blanket. It is a natural colored superfine alpaca by Joseph Galler. It's a good dea, about 665 yars for $25. I love the way it feels. I call it the ETZEL blanket, because it is for my friend Rob, who go married to an awesome woman (Melanie). It's taken me forever to knit this. It's a lace weight, and it is HUGE. I didn't mean it to be huge, it just got that way.



The little teddy bears were knit as well, my first foreray into knitted toys. I don't have the kinks out just yet.

Well, I'm off. I must find my ruby slippers. I am hoping that the yarn store is somewhere over the rainbow. If it is isn't, I have a bad feeling I'm going to end up at my mother's. That means NO knitting for the evening.

This is the back (with cherries) and the front of the Hello Kitty backpack. I'm just getting the hang of blogging, so the picture is a few days off of the actual mention of it. I am still working on the straps and the gussets threads and lining.

Well, ok, I am literally amazed that I am up and conscious. I made the 25 minute trip in 2 hours. Go figure, some poor soul gets half his car removed involuntarily by another Freeway Dragon, and the accident happened right at the exit I needed to get off at. I felt really bad for the person in the accident though. His car was a total loss. You couldn't save that car - EVER!. That has GOT to suck.

Well, I managed to fit an amazing amount of items into my car, and forgot one of the main things I went there for. I swear, brainlock on my behalf. I got my booty home, unloaded, and started to rearrange my living room. I am almost done. I gave up at 6:00 a.m. this morning. Still didn't get around to painting the damn bathroom.

Ironically, I sat down for a break and picked up my alien illusion scarf I started last week without even realizing I picked it up. It's very similar to those people who smoke so often that they don't realize they are smoking. So my knit-jones wasn't as bad as it could have been. I'll have to post a picture of the little scarf this weekend. I did it in a cornflower blue and a dark red and black twist color. I am making the scarf for me, and I wouldn't wear neon green or orange with black, so I opted for other colors. I'm 1/2 japanese, so neon green and orange make me look sallow.

In moving stuff around, I did get to fondle my yarn quite extensively. And then did the unthinkable. I took a break and ordered some Alpaca off the internet. What on earth is my problem. I have a huge yarn stash that some smaller stores would pummel for. I need a knit addiction sponsor...have them talk me down from buying when I shouldn't.

OH.... here is the picture of the Felted Hello Kitty backpack both front and back that I mentioned yesterday. I haven't gotten to the lining, the shoulder straps or the drawstring part. But you will be able to see the general idea behind it. The plan is to have the straps felted separately, and sew them on. Then wash them a second time to adhere it better. The inside will be lined with a really cute Cherry pattern, and the opposite non-visible side it will have a plastic lining sewn in so that any moisture can be dumped out instead of sink through the wool. Plus there will be a little spot for a cell phone, camera and keys. Then it will have gussets where the drawstring comes out so it doesn't fray at the yarn itself. Then I'm putting in a plactic board that slides into slots at the bottom/inside of the backpack. This backpack isn't for books, it's for going to the beach, or the pool. Many people thought I was nuts trying this as my first felting project, and I have to admit that all of them were right. It has been a brain-twister. I just hope I don't screw it up at the last minute. I did another backpack afterwards, and I screwed that baby up so bad, i'm surprised the sheep aren't asking for their wool back.

With so many projects floating around my house, you'd think I denuded a flock of sheep. EWE Got it! Now that I've dipped my toe into the wide world of felting, i'm hooked. I have so MANY projects planned, and am currently working up the graph charts for all the pictures.

Say what? I'm sure your trying to turn off those little floating lighbulbs over your head. What in the heck does AITE EIZOU mean. In Japanese it means (loosely translated) The Reflection of the one whom I must face. That would be ME.

Hi, I'm Diana, and I am a yarn addict. They always say the first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem. They also say that talking about it helps. So, here on this universal toll road to a small section of my brain, are my little adventures in beating yarn addiction. Not all adventures are exciting, but we always learn from what we do. We hope.

Right now it is about 6:00 p.m. PST. I have a busy night tonight and it will keep me from knitting. You smirk, you laugh, but for those of you who can understand, it rings out the word DENIED. Denied the chance to knit tonight.

WHY? My aunt is moving to Japan and has given me carte blanche to the items in her home to keep. Since I was a kid, there are items that I have practically coveted. Always, "it will be mine" would bounce around in my head, and then a string of guilt would accompany those thoughts. Now, "IT WILL BE MINE!!!" I must relay thanks to my aunt, whom I adore and will miss greatly for the items that will make my home look like I've always wanted, but couldn't afford.

But, tonight, I have some stuff to pick up. I live in Huntington Beach, California, and my aunt lives 45 minutes way in Torrance. So I have to battle the dragons of traffic (SUV's with cell phones attached to really annoying little trolls). A 25 minute ride should take me 1 1/2 hours, if I'm lucky.

I am also redecorating my house and must have it ready by Saturday morning. Another light bulb just popped up....why? My nephew, Jake (named after the character in the Sixteen Candles Movie "Jake Ryan") will be visiting me for the first time. He has lived in Spain and Canada and other parts of the US, far from me, and he is now local (within 3 hours for people who do not live in a metropolitan area). I'm so excited I can barely contain myself. He's 10 and will be 11 in August, and from what I understand, WILL wear the items I knit. His little cousin, Malena is getting a Hello Kitty Knitted felt backback for school next year. She just doesn't know it yet.
I will post a picture tomorrow, when I can figure out HOW to post a photo.

Well, as much as I would love to post more...I better start off so that i'm not moving items in the dark. I still have yet to paint the wood trim in my bathroom.

Backlogged projects.

Pictures of past projects. Until I can figure out how to post them on the side of the posts, they will be here.

My Lap Blanket made with Crystal Palace,
Merino Frappe.















Grumpy - Satin Lined Blanket I made
for my friend Brandi:
















Here's a heck-of-alot-of-hats. What is scary
is that I have a whole bunch more. Yikes!












Charlotte's Blanket: