snaggle tooth

2006-04-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

The new and almost improved Snaggle Tooth

phew!

2006-04-09T22:51:00.000-07:00

I finally gave Luke his quilt this weekend. It would have been Thursday but that was the day he picked up his BMW wagon so I decided that he couldn't have the quilt until he could be properly excited about it. That may have been more for me than him. So without further delay I present to you the fruit of 6 months hard labor and stress...

Since I have had to keep this project in the dark, here are a few in progress photos.

Here is the quilt top finished and ironed out.

Spreading out the back to make the sandwich.

The sandwich about half way hand basted. Notice the exotic creature in the top left. Mmmm.

The zigs and zags being marked and quilted.

So that is all. My mom is giving me less than a year to start my next quilt. We'll see, it sure was a lot of work. Maybe next winter.

05 april 2006 or i hate coming up with titles

2006-04-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

Sick again. Ah the woe that is my shitty set of lungs, every season change they betray me. Ah well, could be much worse, I did get a bit of relaxing in the past 4 days. On Monday I decided the only thing that would cure me is leek and veggie soup so of course I was compelled to make it, even though what I needed was to lay down. I bought this giant bunch of veggies at Jewel (home of crap produce), chopped them up, boiled them in a pot, then ate them up. Here is a before and after photo.

I finished up hand hemming my skirt and now it is ready for some warm weather. I have to say I wish I could erase those butterflies on the fabric. I was hoping they wouldn't be very noticible but I think they are.

Finally I am finally finished with my phildar no.20 pieces. It's about time, I thought I was never going to finish. Now I just need to block those suckers and sew them together and hope it's not as long as some other people's I've seen. The measurements say this should fit, but the visuals are telling me otherwise.

Up next is my bag. The pieces are cut out and waiting. We'll see how long they have to wait.

space-case wins. or looses.

2006-04-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

My output may have seemed a bit low for someone so crafty as I and this is why. Ug that rhymes, nast. The "something else" was revealed to Luke in a desperate attempt to stop him from buying a cute duvet cover at Jonathan Adler, so a photo of it crumpled up on a chair while my fingers take a break from sewing the binding on should be permissible. Today I had to take pain killers to ease the shoulder and wrist tendonitis as well as the fact that I can't touch anything with my middle finger from forcing that needle through layers of fabric.

I also picked up some sweet Vogue patterns at 75% off today. Here is my favorite with it's fabric waiting to be turned into either a) a shirt dress that is uber-cool or b) a shirt dress that gives people migranes to look at.

Hoping to attend Ladytron on 4-21 and Yeah Yeah Yeahs on 4-14 but we'll see if I space on that like I spaced on Belle & Sebastion + the New Pornographers. Wow that was lame of me.

busy busy busy

2006-04-09T19:08:00.001-07:00

It has been a very busy past two weeks filling in at work for the sickies and being all around super tired from my NYC trip and working so much extra. First off we have the pattern and fabric for my Sew? I Knit along skirt that I still have not taken a finished picture of. I will have a finished photo tomorrow.

After making the marzipan carrots for the tops of the cupcakes I have more marzipan left over than I think one person could eat in 5 years so I made some marzipan peaches. Why? Good question, but they sure are cute.

In other cooking news I made some delicious chicken chilaquiles for dinner wednesday night for Luke, Jon, their friend Justin, and Emily. I thought it was quite delicious and can’t wait to make it again.

Boring-est of all is the snails pace phildar pullover sleeve. Here it is. It is actually about 3" longer after tonights knitting but I swear this is the sweater that just won’t finish.

cup cakes cup cakes cup cakes yum.

2006-04-09T19:07:00.000-07:00

Tonight I made Carrot-Ginger Cupcakes with orange-ginger cream cheese frosting and marzipan carrots. They are so tasty I love them. I never imagined in a million years that I would make marzipan, in fact I always wondered who on earth makes that stuff. Well the answer is now me.

Here are the marzipan carrots being made. It was touch and go for a while as we dumped obscene amounts of confectionars sugar into the mix but we made it in the end.

And here is the most beautiful carrot on the most beautiful cupcake. Did I mention they are delicious? Yum.

change of address

2006-03-15T22:33:00.000-08:00

I am moving my snaggle tooth to a new address and it should be a wonderful thing once I get the other site looking beautiful. And by I, I mean 10% me and probably 90% my friend Jeff who is super good at this type of thing. We (once again 10/90) are working on the background but the posting has begun over there. The new address is:

http://snaggletooth.b-e-e.net

Now I just have to get people to change my links...cabin blog...hmmm think that's it.

First up on the new and soon to be improved snaggle tooth is Carrot-Ginger Cupcakes with Orange-Ginger Cream Cheese Frosting and Marzipan Carrots. Yum.

finally time for some rest

2006-03-13T20:38:00.001-08:00

Two weekends ago I was in Wisconsin. Last weekend I was in New York City. I am ready for a break. I felt like I was walking on razorblades but had an excellent time and yet again my celebrity sighting was a celebrity I didn't know. That's what happens when you grow up not watching tv. It was a weekend of art and friends who have moved to NYC. Sweet.

Here we are across the street from Magnolia after we ate our cupcakes (not sure why we didn't photograph them, 3 of us have degrees in photography (well two but Jeff counts).

I have also started a fruit based purchasing trend. Granny smith apple canisters from Island Antiques in Minoqua, WI.

And a beautiful bright apple and pear print overnight tote from Brooklyn Industries.

By the way, the celebrity sighting was Dougie Howser.

could it be...?

2006-03-01T19:43:00.000-08:00

Indeed it is. I have finally finished my Heirloom Cardigan without the frilly crochet flower things. I've not completely ruled them out, but I think they aren't quite my style.

And over here we have a shot of the teeny tiny stitches and beautiful buttons. They are uber-pretty little pearl fellows.

Anyway this is the Heirloom Cardigan from Rowan 37 without the frilly crochet. It is knit in Rowan 4ply Soft, color Goblin, on US2 needles. No pattern modifications, found the pattern easy to follow and I like the finished fit. Yum.

phew!

2006-02-27T20:35:00.000-08:00

What a busy weekend I had. Honky tonk bars on Friday night, shopping with my mom on Saturday, The Ultimate Garage Sale art auction on Saturday night, and Paige all day on Sunday. That's more than I usually do in a month.

A shot from the bar after 2 rounds of dancing...

The main purpose of my outing on Saturday morning was to pick up these buttons from Tender Buttons for my cardigan so I can finally finish that sucker up.

Not much further along on my Phildar pullover though, just finished the front and I have the 1st sleeve cast on.

thrift score!

2006-02-22T15:04:00.000-08:00

I finally came across a perfect 4 piece Pyrex set with the teal chickens and corn. I had secretly been searching ebay and every thrift/antique store I went in for these so when I spotted them today at the Thrift Connection, my mom was a bit confused by my excitement. But really who can resist these beauties?

I also picked up some fabric for my future Denise Schmidt oven mits pictured underneath my Pyrex set. I don't quite know why I made the purchase of the dotted and citrus prints, but the plaid was for this...

I have been looking for the perfect hot mug since forever because every hot mug I see has Starbucks written all over it or glitter or fake leather sewn on or something like that is not my taste, so I bought the "Make Your Own Photo Hot Mug" at Starbucks and some fabric. A little fusible interfacing and ironing later and Voilà! My perfect mug. Yum.

slowly, slowly

2006-02-20T23:09:00.000-08:00

I am slowly moving along on my Phildar Sweater, but so far it seems to be passing inspections. I think Kitty must have an 6th sense that lets her know when I have something I don't want to get hair on because it never fails that within 30 seconds of me laying out one of these objects she is all over them, rolling and kneading and all that stuff.

Here is Scarback Grey Squirrel, easily the silliest squirrel ever. He jumped into the squirrel lunchbox in order to eat the corn and escape the cold and wind. Good thinking Scarback Grey Squirrel.

For Valentines Day I also recieved one pack each of these super cute envelopes. There are 5 per pack and they come with a sticker for each. Now I just need some cute paper to write on. They are way to cute for regular lined paper, but where to find such paper. Hmm...

And the "Something Else" is coming along quite nicely and should be completed shortly.

post-valentines

2006-02-15T10:09:00.000-08:00

Number of heart-shaped foods eaten: 3

1. Heart shaped pizza from Giordano's at work.

2. Linzer Hearts made by me.

3. Our traditional heart-shaped meatloaf cheffed up by my len.

I am at the armhole shaping on the back of my Phildar sweater after casting on 3 times and ripping out about 15 rows of armhole shaping last night. Here it is modeled on my new Sukie Folk Handkerchief, a Valentines gift from Luke purchased at the cutest store of all time, Penelope's.

happy birthday

2006-02-12T14:55:00.000-08:00

where's the fire..

2006-02-07T17:53:00.000-08:00

...i've finished my Log Cabin socks. Last night I decided that I was going to finish them before Jimmy Kimmel was over and sure enough I did just as the credits were rolling. For reference I had just finished the leg of the sock yesterday and was beginning the heel when I picked them up to watch the 10:00 news. I think I have arthritis in my hands and brain now. They are super warm but there's one problem, they are extremely dangerous. I either have to sew leather pads to the bottoms or start saving for my next MRI and more physical therapy.

I have decided on my skirt for the sew? i knit! along. Since I am not allowed to buy any new materials until I use up the ones I have and I don't like any of the skirt patterns I have I will be re-making a pattern I drafted a few years ago, back when I really didn't know how to draft patterns. Now that I do, I am still going to use it, but maybe with some tweaks.

The fabric will be whatever I pull out of my box at the time I decide to start it, or maybe whatever I have that best goes with the latest pair of shoes I've bought, which would be these beauties.

And as for the Knitting Olympics, mine will be entitled the Knitting and Something Else Olympics in order to encompass the Christmas present that has been encompassing my life since way before Christmas. I will be trying to make headway on both the Phildar Tendances Automne 05/06 Sweater # 20 and the Something Else. Phew, good luck to me.

hi, let me introduce myself...

2006-02-02T22:03:00.000-08:00

I'm the girl that bought R2. You know you were wondering who they sold that copy to, well it's me, and look what it's done to me. Yes it's made me crazy. Klaus just called to let me know I have the crazy eye.

In other news... I received a complimentary x-ray today. Some of us have all the luck now don't we.

target rocks harder than pantera

2006-02-01T21:08:00.000-08:00

Indeed it does. What did I do today? Of course I went right over to target to check out the first installment of their Go International Flights of Fashion series. The first designer up is the lovely Luella Bartley of the label Luella. Does it get cuter than that? Hardly.

I was pretty psyched when I saw them on line originally but in person I was smitten. Way to go Target on the quality. The jacket is a heavy soft brushed cotton with full lining and the dress has many more tucks and folds than I would have thought a Target dress would ever have and it has boning, wow. Not to mention I never thought I would see such cuteness at Target, I love target to death but their clothing is not usually my style. Plus the mini-line is just as much fun as Luella. Yum.

I can't wait to see who's next.

baguettes fraîches

2006-01-26T23:02:00.000-08:00

Ah, je suis très fatigué! Tried out the baguette recipe in my Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook and I have to say, making baguettes is akin to finding a sick bird and nursing it to health. I have been adding this and that, letting them rest, tucking them in, gently patting them and swaddling them in a towel in my bathroom (the warmest room in this cold cold house) for more rest for the last well, about 24 hours. In the end I nursed 4 beautiful baby baguettes to health only to feel sorry when I was forced to kill one to feed my family. It was hard deciding who would go first.

Pretty tasty overall, even though I forgot to add most of the salt. All that work and of course I space out on something. Next time I will make these little guys on the weekend instead of during the work week, too hard to concentrate after a day of concentrating.

hummus anyone?

2006-01-25T20:06:00.000-08:00

Made a delicious recipe for "Luxury Hummus" from my How to Cook cookbook. It's uber tasty but made quite a bit more hummus than I can eat without turning into it. I would like to invite all two of my readers, Luke and Jon, to take some. Please?

Last night my right foot was kept toasty warm by my one finished sock. Too bad I made it in such a light color, the only thing I could photograph it against was this couch. Not the most beautiful background. Actually neither of these are beautiful photographs since the hummus and the counter are practically the same color.

Here is a list of a few shows I am hoping to attend...anyone interested? Two readers?

Cat Power - 26 Feb - Vic
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - 27 Feb - Logan Square Auditorium
Belle & Sebastian and The New Pornographers - 10 March - Rivera
Art Brut - 30 March - Metro
Built to Spill - 14/15 April - Metro
Ladytron - 21 April - Metro

Going alone, well it just never happens.

back on the ground

2006-01-23T23:42:00.000-08:00

There was a treat awaiting me upon my return from San Diego...snow! It's about time. Winter has been cheap-ass this year and it's about time for it to pay up. And by pay up I mean give me my snow. For Christmas I received a sweet pair of snow boots from my mom but I was starting to think it was a curse in the shape of snow boots.

San Diego was a good time, I met the rest of Luke's family, played some Barbie, saw a few photos and enjoyed some warm weather. Here are a few photos from the journey.

Santa Monica Beach

Luke with our sweet rented ride.

And of course the airplane knitting. I would have finished but I started knitting the smaller size on the way to San Diego and being on a plane, I was unable to try them on. I knit almost the entire cuff but found they were too small, so rip rip rip and now here's where I am. They will most certainly be warm. I can't wait.

On our return flight there were these three ladies who knit. Well there was one lady in a "Got Yarn?" t-shirt and she seemed like the leader of the three. She knit continental faster than the airplane we were on was going, and the other two seemed to be chugging along and asking her a lot of questions about some yarns they had seen in chunks of swatches somewhere. The leader said she thought they were probably Lorna's Laces. The leader also talked yarn faster than she knit, while she was knitting. Quite impressive.

knitting?

2006-01-19T00:18:00.000-08:00

Doesn't the Snaggle Tooth look so cozy wrapped up in my R2 Snug scarf? That's exactly what I look like wearing it, only I have legs instead of roots.

Here are the beginnings of R2 Cuddle with the "snood." I am 99% sure this will somewhat reduce my longing to be wrapped in every piece of clothing I own. Well maybe 40% sure, layering is a hard habit to break.

And here we have a bit of airplane/California knitting. I need a smallish project to take with and somehow I thought the size US35 needles weren't the most portable. They will be in Cascade 220 color = Pear on US4 needles instead of the super fat yarn on US5 needles. They're the Log Cabin socks of course, and they ought to solve another one of my problems...ice cold feet.

It is hard work being cold...always looking like a marshmallow, snuggling into a flannel sheet, blanket, down comforter, flannel quilt and crocheted throw whilst wearing long underwear under your pajamas, and such. So it is off to California this weekend to meet more of Luke's family and hopefully absorb a bit of warmth. And see some art. No tans though, got the SPF packed already.

knitted skirts?

2006-01-06T20:05:00.000-08:00

Oh yes, knitted skirts. I bought this one from Urban Outfitters and I have to say it's like wearing sweats with the added bonus of it being appropriate for work.

Because of this skirt I can't wait to make this little number from Vogue Knitting. Maybe not in white though.

movin' along

2006-01-05T17:22:00.000-08:00

Well item number 3 is moving much closer to finishing. The Heirloom Cardigan from Rowan 37 has been sitting with one button band unsewn for weeks now. I attached the first one and in doing so realized that it was my most tedious knitting related action, well since I started knitting. After that I just let it hang out and throw pleading looks at me to finish it.

So I finally buckled down and sewed it on, but now it has no buttons. I had buttons all picked out, some cheap-ass Hancock Fabrics plastic pearl buttons. Best lookin' thing at Hancock but everything was about to change on a recent trip to Barney's with ol' Bats.

We happened upon Tender Buttons. I would say that we head down to that corner quite a bit scouting out suits but never had I noticed this store. Well they have some super sweet buttons that I have decided this sweater deserves. All real non-plastic pearly, smooth and cold, and I do feel like I owe this sweater after making it sit around so long. So back to waiting it goes.

cross that off your list...

2006-01-01T22:35:00.000-08:00

the stripey mittens are finished. It's about time, they have been burning a hole in my brain since I put them down about 2 months ago. The recipe is 2 skeins Blue Sky Alpacas sportweight (one olive, one white) + 1 Warmest Mittens pattern from Knitting Pretty and voilà!

"the list"

2005-12-30T00:14:00.000-08:00

Damn "the list" just keeps getting longer and longer and longer... it's time to take care of buisness. No more new supplies until I finish some of this crap up. And by crap I mean lovely handcrafted items. "The list" is broken down into two sub-lists:

A. Projects I Have Started (put on hold by the first item on the list)
Luke's Christmas present.
heirloom cardigan
striped mittens
purple skirt
appliqued dish towel
plaid skirt

B. Projects I Have Not Yet Started But Have the Supplies To Make
phildar sweater
R2 scarf
R2 sweater
brown sheep stripey top-ish thing
various skirts and other sewing projects

I am an OCD list maker. If I would use the time I spend making lists completing the things on the lists I wouldn't need half as many lists. It's hard work being uber-organized.

And an action shot of the pugalug begging for treats taken using the "Kids and Pets" setting on my new digital camera. It sure is amazing having a "Kids and Pets" setting, I mean how else would I ever be able to capture such incredible stop motion shots? Oh yea, I could set my ISO to 400. What a bizarre setting.

christmas knitting...check

2005-12-26T09:29:00.000-08:00

The Broadstreet Mittens are done. Finished these beauts up on Saturday and then wrapped them up. I think my Dad likes them and they sure fit well.

the sickness is (almost) over

2005-12-24T15:28:00.000-08:00

First the flu, then bronchitis. Can't have one without the other. Here is a picture of my germ.

a tasty treat

2005-12-11T20:57:00.000-08:00

Lemon Madeleines, mmm...

presents presents presents

2005-12-09T00:02:00.000-08:00

Almost done with the Christmas presents, phew! Well I suppose I shouldn't say phew! until I have finished the lot of them.

For my mom I made a pouch to hold her knitting accessories which are included since I just taught her how to knit this summer and is always taking mine. She will also be receiving a skein of Color Your Own yarn from Knitpicks as will I so we can dye yarn together. How sweet.

For my Grandma we have a floppy bucket hat with a flower from Interweave Knits, although I am not sure which one at the moment, accompanied by a mistake ribbed scarf with plenty of fringe. She loves a good fringe. This should be interesting because when my mom and I try the hat on we look incredibly idiotic but this is my grandma's' favorite style of hat. No information is gleaned by the model in the magazine for it is modeled by "The Interweave Knits Daughter of the Editor" who I believe looks stoned in every photograph. Made these in Knitpicks Sierra with a little Cascade 220 crochet flower contributed by my mom.

Here are the Broadstreet Mittens from knitty.com for my father. Still have a bit to go on these puppies. Weave in all those ends, make the caps, blah blah. I am using Blue Sky Alpacas 100% Alpaca Sportweight but I tell you on US2 needles I can see through the fabric. What gives?

And here is a shot of how uber long my Clapotis is. It sure is an animal and sheds like one two. Something like 93" long but I do love it. Warm like tiny bunnies on a string wrapped around your neck or something.

and the winner is...

2005-12-05T22:40:00.000-08:00

A Clapotis scarf knitted in Classic Elite Lush for the girl voted "Most Likely to Get Bronchitis Every Year" for 23 years running...

And since that same girl is also the girl voted "Most likely to Become unreasonably Cold and Wish Her Scarf Turned Into a Gigantic Toasty Wrap" it does.

Yum.

christmas time is here

2005-12-01T23:06:00.000-08:00

The most beautiful tree in the world.

Christmas gifts:
Hat and scarf for Grandma
Mits for dad
Pouch with knitting accessories for mom

My Phildar yarn for the most beautiful sweater under the tree. Can't start till Christmas presents are done and I finish up a few things that need finishing up.

puppy sitting

2005-11-15T09:58:00.000-08:00

Well it's gettin' cold so I got busy and knitted up a little somethin' somethin' to keep my neck warm with leftover (hence the odd color pattern) Rowan Big Wool. Soft and cozy and uber warm on sz. 15 needles. Lots of Christmas Presents to work on, I better get crackin'.

This week I have a tiny pug. Her name is Sister and she is best friends with my beagle Sandy. Together they rummage for smells and play tug of war with Sandy's chipmunk.

They are the cutest dogs ever, even though Sandy has a laser eye.

decoratively hooded pullover

2005-11-04T23:25:00.000-08:00

I put the non-finishing touches on my Hooded Pullover tonight.
Exhibit A:

Hmm...(perhaps you are thinking) that is not looking so non-finished. Well to that I offer Exhibit B:

Someone save me before that too small hood eats me alive.

In other news the Quietude for my Phildar sweater is backordered 1-2 weeks leaving me plenty of time to re-work this hood, and a tiny (well 54") beautiful blue Eddy Merckx bike and hopefully on of these will be coming my way tomorrow morning courtesy of Luke, the man who had me start this thing I call snaggle tooth.

my first knitalong

2005-10-30T21:02:00.000-08:00

Today I joined my first knitalong for the most beautiful sweater hosted by Julsey at Peony Knits. It is sweater number 20 from the Phildar Tendances Sutomne 05/06 book. I ordered my pattern book and yarn from Knit N Tyme and am in the process of translating while I wait for my yarn.

I also started a pair of Broadstreet fingered mittens for my dad for Christmas. I am knitting them in Blue Sky Alpacas 100% Alpaca Sportweight, the most wonderful yarn in the world. So soft and warm and very light. Yum.

I think I may need to slowly step away from the orange yarn...

lazy lazy...

2005-10-26T22:07:00.000-07:00

well not really all lazy. May I present...

One owl made for a friend's birthday.

4 pieces of the Hooded Pullover (#32) from Vogue Knitting Fall 05.

armwarmers

2005-10-12T21:25:00.000-07:00

One pair of armwarmers knit in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in dusty pink or something like that for my sister, an uber-quick knit. I didn't know how she would feel about the cables so I put them on the sides in case she thought they were a bit odd. Pretty hard taking a picture of your own arm.

work knitting

2005-09-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

One mitten knit with Blue Sky Alpacas 100% alpaca sportweight.

a semi-big ol' pile

2005-09-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

Included in this pile of things I have made at some point are skirts, mittens, sweaters, shirts, bags etc. And yes, that is a cheeseburger with all the fixins on top. Dig in.

hmm...a blog

2005-09-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

At Luke's request, here is a blog.