Headband & The Other Boleyn Girl

I had some of the Claudia Handpainted yarn leftover from Mitt Envy and it was so beautiful I had to do something with it. I looked for a headband pattern that I liked and couldn’t find one so I gave up and did a simple garter stitch. It probably shows off the colors the best anyway. I love it! My hair is growing out and not quite long enough to pull it all back without some escaping so it will get used a lot. I’m sure I’ll be making more as it’s a great use of a left over yarn. Expect to see lace ones!

I owe you guys a couple of book reviews. I listened to The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory while traveling in Europe. I really liked the book and I definitely recommend it. I haven’t seen the movie, but I don’t know how they fit everything in to it, there is so much going on in the book.  If you haven’t seen the movie previews, it’s about Henry the VIII, Anne Boleyn and her sister Mary. Despite knowing how it would it for Anne, I was very engaged by the story. I’m definitely gong to be be reading The Boleyn Inheritance

What’s the 411?

Wow really I’m so far behind in my blog reading, apologies to everyone, I hope to catch up soon. I have some time so I thought I’d pop in and let give you guys an update. I’m a bit of a mad women right now so I hope it all makes sense! If you’re just hear for the knittin’ its at the end

The house – the inspection was Friday they are asking for one thing to be fixed, depending on the cost I may or may not do it. I have one more apartment to check out Monday evening. Then that decision will be made.

Wine Charms - if you’ve bought charms I’ll be sending them this week. If you haven’t pop over to the link on the right. It’s a smoking deal on some fabulous charms in amazing themes and it’s for a good cause!

Books – I have had these reviews written for over a week and I don’t see any point in saving them any longer.

The Myth of You and Me – loved it! I didn’t major in literature so I can’t get all fancy with why I liked it. But I enjoyed the story, the twists, the surprises, the idea the even when you know, or think you know everything about someone, they can still surprise you, there are things you might not know. I’d say it’s a story of hope, redemption and regret.

The Book of Air and Shadows – Liked it. I listened to this while I was knitting. It’s the type of book I enjoy listening to while knitting, action, adventure, intrigue, mystery. If you liked the Da Vinci Code you’ll like this one.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox – Love it. I finished it in only a couple of days. I was waiting for this one to come out, I must have read a review somewhere before it was published because I was almost tempted to buy it. I don’t normally buy fiction novels, that’s why I have a library card, but I came close. It would have been worth it.

I haven’t found as much time to read as I’d like to lately. There is so much going on, plus I’m planning a trip to Italy so I’ve been reading a LOT of travel books.

If you like keeping track of the books you own, books you’ve read, etc and you haven’t checked out Goodreads, you should! I know there are other sites out there for organizing your books and I’ve used some of them in the past. But I’m hooked on Goodreads now. They’ll let you import your books from other sites like LibraryThing and you can add unlimited books for free!

Knitting – Right now I have two goals – 1. Finish the Central Park Non Hoodie before I leave for Europe because if it looks as fab as I hope I’ll take it with me. 2. Finish my sisters Clapotis before I leave for Europe because it will be too warm to wear when we get back. You may notice it looks different than the last time you saw it. I switched yarns, I wasn’t happy with the other. So yes, I’m knitting two items in Grey right now.

Gifts! – Emily sent me a package this week! It was a wonderful surprise in the middle of all the madness. Her kindness is unbelievable and so appreciate right now. It’s a ball of Panache, my favorite discontinued KnitPicks yarn and a mini sock key chain (I think this is all part of her evil plan to get me to knit socks! LOL) Isn’t she wonderful? Really, Emily, this made my week!

Stitchionary

A couple of weekends ago I was in B&N picking up a book for my secret pal when I noticed they had rearranged the knitting book section and now there was a table with sale items on it. I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. I managed to restrain myself to just 2 books. Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume One: Knit & Purl and The Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume Two: Cables, I love them. Oh I have other stitch dictionaries and one of those pattern a day calenders. I’ve been wanting these since I realized the samples were knit in similar colors because sometimes I wonder if I like a pattern in my stitch dictionary because of the pattern it’s self or because of the color. Yes I really do have this problem and I constantly wish they were all the same color. (someone else admit they have this problem too, so I don’t feel like such a weirdo). The patterns are all charted and written and the books are just really well written. Plus the best part, I got them fro 50% off plus my B&N discount. Yeah it’s not yarn but it’s not bad

There aint no reason things are this way

some random thoughts

• why is my toothbrush handle ergonomically correct? Is this a real problem? Are people causing irreversible damage to their hands everyday during the 4 minutes they spend brushing?
• I am SO close to finishing the Minimalist Cardigan it’s driving me crazy. I leave town this afternoon and I’m not taking it with me, I wont have the space to block it or time to seam it carefully, so it seems silly to take it with me. But it’s driving me crazy, I am SO close!
• I need a chauffeur. I have to drive 3-4 hours today and that’s good knitting time! I wonder if I could train the boys to drive….
• I finished Inkheart and liked it. It was recommended to me by Sheepish Annie when I was suffering Harry Potter withdraw. I’m on hold for the next book, Inkspell. I’m also relistening to the Lord of the Rings. I have to say I was very disappointed to read the loathing and abuse heaped on both HP and LotR on a message board lately. Closemindedness knows no limits. I love Austen and Dumas and regularly read nonfiction (wanna talk about African oil?) but I love HP and LotR too. I’ve got lots of love to go around.
• Thank you to all the friends that commented on my “wiser” list both on the blog and off. Like almost everyone I struggle with my self image and work to be a good person. Remembering the last one “I like me. I’m not perfect but I’m a good person and I’m tired of apologizing for the things others may not like.” has been hard this week. I think I’m going to continue to struggle with it.
• It’s finally cooling down! woooohoooo! yeah Fall!
• I’m starting to get excited about new Fall tv shows, how big of a dork does that make me? oh well, let my geek light shine – Dirty Sexy Money (Peter Krause!), Bionic Woman, Cane (I think this conflicts with Boston Legal eek!) get your geek on this one has premiere dates oh and 25 days till Heroes!

Romantic Handknits

I ordered this book sight unseen and I was not disappointed! It’s always risky to order a book you haven’t seen, in fact I got another one with this book that I’ll be sending back. Romantic Hand Knits: 26 Flirtatious Designs That Flatter Your Figure is divided into 3 sections, About the Waist, Below the Waist and Accessories. I really love the patterns and although I haven’t started knitting anything the instructions look well written. Here are a few of the ones I really like.

Saratoga

The Heiress

A Street Car Named Desire

Notorious

Casablanca (I think this will be my first project)

Dark Victory

The skirts in the book are beautiful, unfortunately I know with my body type I wont be happy with any skirt. So on to the accessories

Gone with the Wind

Some Like It Hot

don’t you just love the names? Robin is hosting a KAL for this book, and it doesn’t start until November so you’ve got plenty of time to get your yarn!