mixtape monday.

whimsy

  (hwĭm'zē, wĭm'-) 

also whim·sey n., pl. -sies also -seys.

1. An odd or fanciful idea; a whim.
2. A quaint or fanciful quality: stories full of whimsy.

[Probably from whim-wham, fanciful object.]

playlist.

1. Vashti Bunyan - Glow Worms

2. Chantal Goya - Un Lapin (A Rabbit)

3. Butterfly Ball - Love is All

4. Joanna Newsom - Monkey & Bear

5. Theme from Amelie

[photo via Shorpy]

early x-mas.

i finished my first xmas gift!!!!  these are for dave's niece.

i embroidered a free pattern from wee wonderfuls on a piece of linen i had sitting in the fabric stash and used vintage tweed i found on etsy for the back.  i really need to take a picture of it, it's fantastic!

one down, ten to go...

who else is trying to stick to handmade gifts this year???

___________________________________________________

Little Self Centred Queen - Clare Bowditch

i wanna play musical chairs.

You, too, can own a piece of land.

i've been saving this jar for no reason.
the other day i saw this really green patch of moss on the side of the road
and knew i wanted to plant it somehow and keep it for myself.
I googled directions to make a terrarium and boom.done.
i have a portable piece of earth.




How I did it (which may not be the correct way):



1. Put glass marbles in the bottom for drainage. I used the kind you would put in a candlescape thingy.

2. (this is where you put the layer of spanish moss) I skipped that step.
3. Dump in a lil' potting soil.
4. Take a spade with you and dig up some moss on the way to work and put it in a ziplock bag.
5. Tamp down the moss onto the potting soil.
6. Find pretty things to decorate it. I used mushroom cupcake picks i bought on etsy quite a while ago.


i kinda love it.
----------------

Gin Wigmore - SOS
she added meh on myspace today. i love her.



<3
knitxcore.

cookies!

so, despite it being like 85 degrees outside today, i opted to bake some decidedly autumnal cookies.

i bought maple extract to make these maple walnut cookies months ago, and then completely forgot about it.  i was thumbing through "how to be a domestic goddess" and came across the recipe this afternoon and finally remembered it was in the back of the spice cabinet.

we're already in love with these cake-y lil' gems!

i don't want to post the recipe, and get sued or something.  you should probably just pick up the book anyway (even if it's only for the super tasty snickerdoodle recipe).

________________________________________

Hello Saferide - Get Sick Soon

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knitxcore.

shop update.

knitxcore.etsy.com

this is really all i added.

i went to this irish festival thing today.  we saw a lot of folks selling rings.  later we saw irish dancers.  they keep their hands in lil' fists.  maybe it's so all the rings they bought earlier in the day don't fall off?

_____________________________________________

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy "Cursed Sleep"

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knitxcore.

yum.

Ummm... I haven't blogged in awhile, but I had to share this!

I came across it on theKitchn blog today, and just couldn't resist.  It seriously took less then 10 minutes and I got to use my awesome air popper.  Even though it looks delicious while warm, really let it cool!  My tongue is still a little burned. 

Peanut Butter Popcorn
makes about 8 cups

1/4 cup popcorn kernels
Vegetable oil 
Fine salt
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup sugar 
1/2 cup peanut butter (should be free of added sugar) 
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Prepare a clean paper shopping bag or oversized mixing bowl. Heat a large heavy pan over medium heat and film the bottom with vegetable oil. Add the popcorn, shake to distribute, then put a lid on the pan. Leave a small crack for steam to escape. When the popcorn starts popping, shake vigorously to make sure the kernels pop evenly. When the popping slows, take the pan off the heat.

Pour the popcorn into the paper bag or bowl to cool, being careful to leave any unpopped kernels in the pan. Coated with peanut butter caramel, the unpopped kernels are a serious tooth hazard. Lightly salt the popcorn to taste.

Mix the honey and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Let it simmer for a couple minutes, then remove from the heat and add the peanut butter. Stir vigorously until all the peanut butter is melted, then mix in the vanilla.

Immediately pour the peanut butter caramel over the popcorn and stir with a long-handled wooden spoon until it's all coated. Once it's mixed you can put it in a serving bowl. Cover tightly after it's cooled.

---AustraliaCore---

JOSH PYKE: Lines On Palms

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knitxcore.

Mixtape Monday.

1.	Cat Stevens - Moonshadow 2. Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi 3. Gordon Lightfoot - Carefree Highway 4. Leonard Cohen - Famous Blue Raincoat 5. Bob Dylan - I'll Be Your Baby Tonight 6. Ani DiFranco - What If No One's Watching 7. Travelling Wiburys - Handle With Care <3 knitxcore.

MixTape MoNdAY!

1.Letters To Cleo - Here and Now
2.The Muffs - Kids In America    3.Jill Sobule - Supermodel   4.Save Ferris - Come On Eileen
5.Blues Traveler - Run-Around
6.Alana Davis - 32 Flavors

<3
knitxcore.

    

Scrubbing Day!

is my favorite day :-)


Pippi Longstocking - Scrubbing Day


one of my all time favorite movies. ever.

i've been using mrs. meyers lavendar all-purpose cleaner on scrubbing day to mop the floor. It smells so effing good!!!!!

<3>
knitxcore.

MixTape Monday.

1. Kate Nash - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You (Black Kids Cover)

2. Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You

3. Kate Nash - Fluorescent Adolescent (Arctic Monkeys Cover - Live Lounge)

4. Arctic Monkeys - Flourescent Adolescent

5. Kate Nash - Men's Needs (Live)

6. The Cribs - Men's Needs

i'm sort of obsessed this week, eh?

<3

knitxcore.

GOne.

I'm going to see conor oberst tonight!



you know you're jealous.

<3

knitxcore.

twilight.

We've already come to the realization that I'll read anything. I actually started this book out of curiosity, we started selling merch for it at the store I work in. I had no intention to enjoy it, or even finish it for that matter. I just wanted to see what the hype was about and see if it could in fact fill the hole that "the boy who lived" left in my life last year.

I was pleasantly surprised when i couldn't put this book down. At all. I read it @ work, @ home, in the car, and anywhere else I could find a few minutes. It's not a literary masterpiece, Stephanie Meyer isn't going to be the Joyce Carol Oates or anything like that, but the god damned story is sooooooooo good. I'm not going to spoil it for everyone and talk about the story (but if you've read it and want to chat, leave a comment!). I finished it in a couple of days and started the next book in the series already.

and if that not enough for you knitters...

yarn in colorways named after Bella's hometown:

Forks-Twilight II @ Septembrina

Shades of Forks from the Twilight Saga.

"This is what I think Bella sees when she looks out her window in the mornings. Thick fog and dense shades of spruce. Better put on a nice pair of socks."



And Ravelry Groups:

Twilight Saga Fans

Twilight Saga Fans Book Club

But there's also a movie coming out:

so just go read it? okay?

<3

knitxcore.

MixTapeMonday!!!

1. Antony And The Johnsons - Hope There's Someone
2. Antony & The Johnsons - Fistful of Love (ft. Lou Reed)
3. St Vincent - Jesus Saves. I Spend
4. Au Revoir Simone - Sad Song
5. Tori Amos - Siren
6. Mono - Life In Mono
7. Sarah Blasko - Planet New Year
8. Bat For Lashes - Whats A Girl To Do
9. Gotye - Hearts A Mess

Enjoy!

<3

knitxcore.

Friday Faves!

I love that blog, howispentmystimulus.com, and since I haven't blogged in a while I'll show you where my extra cash went:


Screen Printed Wool Log Pillow @ myimaginaryboyfriend

Simple Oilcloth Lunchbag in Faux Bois @ RickRackQueen

Acorn Pillow @ littleredfox

I frogged the jaywalker again and a charade (sorry sandra!). I think my feet must be getting fat or something??? I dunno? I really need to make a new pair a socks or at least get to darning the old ones.

I've been really busy lately, hanging on Flylady's every word. It's pretty much an orgnizational/housecleaning program through e-mail. It tells you what to clean, when to clean it and why. The best part is, NOTHING TAKES MORE THAN 15 MINUTES!!!!! I know it sounds sort of crazy, but it works! We run a small e-bay business(thriftyfashion.com) from our spare room and everything just started to become sort of overwhelming until I found this. I feel so calm knowing a clean house is only 15 minutes away.

I've started a few new projects here and there, went to a few shows and bummed around for a little, but I'm alive. I swear.

---Let'sRideBikeS---

Bat For Lashes - Whats a Girl To Do



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knitxcore.

CleAning Day!

today is cleaning day!

i'm trying to be more of a morning person.

i like the quiet but hate getting out of bed.

i found the most adorable video this morning:



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knitxcore.

SPT: 070308

I know it's been awhile, but i decided to do it on the way home from work.



I walk to and from work a lot.
I live right across the street and it takes about ten minutes.
It's like a lil' adventure everyday.
I have to crawl through some bushes and climb through a hole in a fence.


(this is the lil' secret passage)

---JoniMiTChELLNeverLies---

Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi - Isle of Wight 1970

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knitxcore.

Hey LooK!

I knitted a sock...



and then frogged it...



Lessons Learned:

1. ALWAYS do a gauge swatch.
2. Just because you're really thin, doesn't mean you should just go for the smaller size.
3. Everyone in BloGLanD is telling the truth, Jaywalkers are really that tight.

I've been sort of busy, and it seems like not as many folks are reading my blog. Maybe if I write really trashy stuff about celebrities, or post pictures of political figures in scandalous positions more people will stop by??? Suggestions? anyone?

---IloveDuX---

City and Color - The Girl



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knitxcore.

7 things.

"The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer."

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?

I was a freshman in high school. I watched romeo & juliet almost everyday, listened to Bush and Marylin Manson, painted my fingernails to look edgy, tap danced, stayed up late to watch sanford and son, never washed my hair, and made sandwiches to fund my adidas problem. I had it all figured out then.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?

I took a picture of my actual to-do list for the day:


3) Snacks I enjoy:

-Crackers! any type really.
-Nuts (cashews are my faves)
-Cheese, the lil' round ones dipped in wax...

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

I would buy a farm in France, put enough away to buy flour and soap and get rid of the rest. To live self sustained is worth all the money in the world.

5) Places I have lived:

Oh god, lets start at the begining:
-Maryland
-Virginia
-Northern New Jersey
-Central Jersey
-Virginia
-Central Jersey
-New York City
-South Jersey


6) Jobs I have had:

-Sandwich Maker
-Stockboy @ 5-7-9
-Stockboy @ Ross
-Tele-marketer
-Sales Associate @ PacSun
-Sales Associate @ H&M
-Keyholder @ The Body Shop
-KeyHolder @ Rack Room Shoes
-Co-Manager @ Journeys
-Asst. Manager @ Hot Topic

7) Bloggers I am tagging who I will enjoy getting to know better:

Flint Knits
Yarn Ball Boogie
Me, Myself and Kai
Subdue it with a Sweater
I May Be Knitting a Ranch House

and anyone else thats wants to...

---Music From 10 years ago---

Bush - Glycerine



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knitxcore.

the flickr game.

I've seen this on a couple of blogs today, I couldn't resist.

The concept:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

everyone should do this. just sayin.

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knitxcore.

FO: Uh-oh's.

I've been having the worst trouble the past weeks with my ISP!!!! Don't worry! I haven't run away and joined a cult.... yet.



I did, however, have some time to finish and old WIP. I bought the pattern from Mochimochi land about a year ago, the yarn more than 6 months ago during that yarn crawl, and started about two months ago. I'm such a slacker sometimes.

Pattern Particulars

Pattern Source: Uh-oh's @ Mochimochi Land

Needles: Fiddlesticks Size 4 Bamboo DPN's

Materials: Rowan Scottich Tweed $ p-ly, Felt, Plastic eyes with anchors, and fiberfill.

Time: way too long, not because the patterns was hard or complex, just because I'm lazy.

loved: how god damned cute they are.

hated: you'll see, if you buy the pattern (i don't want to give away the secret).


I've started some Jaywalkers (about 4 times!) and keep missing an important part of the math in the pattern. I'm going to go look on Ravelry and see if I can figure out what I'm doing wrong. I keep ending up with missing stitches.

It's been a billion degrees in my house all week, the air breaks every year. DH says it's a rite of spring. I can barely function in the heat, let alone sleep. I'm one of those folks who wraps themselves up in the comforter regardless of how hot it is. I just can't get comfortable without it.

I'm sort of procrastinating, Tuesday is cleaning day and I haven't even finished half of the to-do list. I guess I should go vacuum...

---AtdaHoP---

Devendra Banhart - At the Hop



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knitxcore.

SPT: 052208 Inspiration board.

i think it's time to shake things up.
it's been the same for quite a while.

---SmiTTeN!---

The Smittens - My Favorite Dream



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knitxcore.

SPT: 051508 wannabe

I tried to cut my hair to look like morrissey's used to.

close, but no cigar.

oh well.

---SmiTHAgE!---

The Smiths - I started something I couldn't finish



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knitxcore.

Spring Cleaning!

I need to get rid of some magazines but, i couldn't bear to throw these away. Maybe you want to make the Twinkle Shopping tunic, or that fancy cabled Michael Kors sweater?

I'm asking $3 + shipping for each one (they're originally $5.99), but all interesting trades will be considered....



VK Holiday 05 (ravelry) SOLD!



VK winter 05/06 (ravelry) SOLD!



VK Spring/Summer 06 (ravelry)



VK fall 06 (ravelry) SOLD!



VK winter 06 (ravelry) SOLD!



VK holiday 06 (ravelry)

Please get them outta my house!

<3

knitxcore.

H is for Hole

Believe it or not, this is first time this has happened to me!

I really didn't expect it from a pricey sock yarn. Maybe I wore them too much?

Either way, the situation gave a chance to learn how to darn. I found a video on YouTube of an old lady doing it, and that it looked simple enough. While I didn't move as quickly as her, or do as perfect a job, the hole has been patched up and the socks will live to see another day. (I, honestly was almost in tears, over a hole in a sock.)

You can darn socks to:



or just listen to good music, if darning isn't you bag:

Tegan and Sara - Speak Slow




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knitxcore.

G is for GroW!!!!!

You may remember last years garden, and that even though I had all the basil anyone could ask for I couldn't get a damn tomato to grow???? Yeah, that garden.
Instead of getting discouraged and throwing in the towel, I've decided to give this whole "growing food" thing another shot. Inspired by Jana's recession garden, I lurked a few gardening messageboards, I found what could be a perfect plant fot my tiny shady deck.
Tom Thumb Peas!!!!! (even their name is cute!) Apparently, it is a quite rare heirloom variety dating back to the 1800's. I had quite a hard time actually getting the seeds, though. I ordered from one website and they had sold out, others were in the UK and Canada and the shipping wasn't worth the cost of the seeds. I finally found some @ Trade Winds Fruit. They sprung up pretty quickly considering I didn't use an inoculant or even bother to freeze the seeds first. The lil' seedlings need to make it a few more days on the kitchen table before I'm comfortable putting them outside in their pots.

I still haven't made my mom a gift, it's obviously to late to knit anything fancy and I couldn't think of anyhing to sew :-( If anyone has any good ideas, lemme know? I have 10 days left and she really likes handmade gifts. If it gets down to the wire, I'm sure I could find something on Etsy.

I finished something for the shop!!!!! I know it's been empty for a while, but I have a plan and hopefully this time I can fill it up and keep it full. You all will be the first to know when it's ready :-)

---KatenaShcOre---

Kate Nash - Mouthwash



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knitxcore.

SPT: 041008

Out damned spot, I say!
It's cleaning day.

---GooDClEAn FUN---

Eisley - Come Clean (live @ sundance)



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knitxcore

SPT: 040308 hightea.

Drinking tea with an octopus is quite an intrigue.
Just don't raise your pinky, if your company is missing said digits it is considered quite rude.

---TeaPartYMuSiC---

Au Revoir Simone - Fallen Snow




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knitxcore.

F is for FO

I just finished a pair of socks I started in January, the sad part is that there just plain ol' stockinette socks. No cables, or fancy ribbing just generic toe-up socks. I\
]=mmediately upon finishing them I decided I wanted to take the FO pic outside, outside where it rained last night. I was pretty much standing in mud. Oh! The things I'll do for a good photo.

Pattern Particulars

Pattern Source: Wendy's Fingering Weight Toe-Up socks with Gusset Heel
Needles: 32" US Size 1 Addi Turbos
Materials: Hobbledehoy Merino Sock Yarn in Pop Quiz
Time: Longer than it should have ever taken. I started these in January.
loved: Not picking up any stitches for the heel!!!!!!
hated: I casted off sort of tightly, and I'm not going back to fix it.
Notes: I followed the pattern for the Large size, and did a 3X2 rib before casting off in pattern.




I need to make something new for my mom for her birthday. I started an apron and realized I cut the pieces out wrong, so that's not going to work. I know that Branching Out pattern is supposed to be pretty simple for beginner lace, and I have some raw silk hanging around it may look nice in.

---FeedtheTrEE---

Belly - Feed the tree



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knitxcore.