I know, it’s been ages yet again. I’ve come very close to just shutting this blog down - after 6+ years I’m just blogged out and energy is low to keep it going. But something keeps me from taking it down. So I might as well babble when I can.

Things have basically been pretty sucky lately. A loss of a major client (on site part time, with benefits) thrust me unexpectedly into job hunting for the first time in over 7 years. After some interviews and a lot of contemplation about going back full time and leaving Ty alone, etc. I decided instead to keep going freelance for now. Another really good gig fell into my lap. This one is sans benefits but pays a lot more so I can pay for those benefits. I still have freedom. I will get good experience working for a print magazine. All is well in that area at least for now. But it doesn’t help that other things have been going on and have thrust me deeper into a frustrating depression. I know my depression isn’t clinical. It’s without a doubt circumstantial but I have been unable lately to figure out how to change those circumstances. And that is more personal that I have ever gotten here - or plan to again.

There has been knitting though. Staying at home a lot lately has given me time to work on some projects. A friend had a baby girl, so I started the Ribbon Tied baby dress from Debbie Bliss’ Special Knits, but I thought it a bit boring, so gave it a lacy top. I lifted the lace from the ubiquitous February baby/lady sweater. Here’s the back - the front is in progress.

Then I have a birthday thing coming up for another friend, and a lot of time at night watching the Olympics, so I dug out some old Andean Treasure alpaca and started whipping up a Forest Canopy shawl. Will I finish this by tonight so I can block tomorrow? Who knows. Here it is unblocked, looking like an alpaca blob.

And speaking of alpaca - were we? I have been wanting to knit this since the Fall Vogue arrived a few weeks ago. I love this sweater, it’s very me.

So some friends and I went up to Flying Fingers on the Yarn Bus last weekend and I looked for the Blue Sky Melange there. First of all, not that impressed with the place at all. It’s much smaller than I thought and the selection not so impressive. They had only one color of the Blue Sky that I liked, a vivid orange, but not enough for the sweater. And the more I thought about it, and the more I worked with the Andean Treasure from Knitpicks, the more I knew I should just get that, in a shade of green of course, and so I did.

This is more like it.

Knitting Stuff, Personal Stuff | 5 Comments »

Copying Michelle, because even though I have tons I could post about, I have nothing to say. Very little knitting. Don’t want to talk about having to scramble to look for a job for the first time in 7 years. It’s pretty photos to distract me time, so here you go.

What is your first name? Jacqueline
What is your favorite food? Really good pizza, not the bad kind
What high school did you attend? Abraham Lincoln High School
What is your favorite color? green
Who is your celebrity crush? I’ll say Jeffrey Dean Morgan, because I can’t say who it is really
Favorite drink? A nice cold Guinness
Dream vacation? Scuba diving in the Galapagos
Favorite dessert? Ice Cream
What do you want to be when you grow up? A millionnaire
What do you love most in life? My honey boy, Ty
One word to describe you. Cranky
Your Flickr name. Jackieblue212

Meme Stuff | 4 Comments »

Because I can’t seem to get myself to actually post anything about knitting (there’s been some, but not much lately) or take an ABC photo - here’s that A-Z meme that’s been going around.

Accent: A trace of Brooklyn, though most tell me they can’t hear it, and some say definitely.

Breakfast or no breakfast: Breakfast for sure, usually yogurt, banana and coffee, though the occasional muffin (blueberry) or bagel sneaks in.

Chore I don’t care for: Any. Hate cleaning, HATE.

Dog or cat: Cats are cute but it’s dog all the way for me.

Essential electronics: Computer, iPhone, TV/DVR/DVD.

Favorite cologne: None. I really hate most of it. I used to wear a subtle vanilla from L’Occitane till they changed the formula and it started to make me ill.

Gold or silver: White gold.

Handbag I carry most often: I switch a lot, but this season it’s a bright orange leather satchel. I’m into the brights.

Insomnia: Very very rarely.

Job Title: Don’t really have one as I’m self employed. Freelance art director/graphic designer, I guess.

Kids: Not very likely.

Living arrangements: Studio apartment in a neighborhood I love.

Most admirable trait: Loyalty, even to those who might not deserve it.

Naughtiest childhood behavior: Plenty - probably tantrums being the worst.

Overnight hospital stay: Pneumonia when I was 2.

Phobias: I’ve developed a really bad height phobia. Never had that when I was younger.

Quote: “I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best”.

Reason to smile: Friends, pup, sunshine over the ocean

Siblings: one older brother.

Time I wake up: Typically 9-9:30 on work at home days, 8:30 on office days. This doesn’t count how many times I wake up before actually getting out of bed.

Unusual skill or talent: I can make a neat room messy in about 2 minutes.

Vegetable I refuse to eat: Really none, but if you sun dry a tomato, I’m probably doing to push it aside.

Worst habit: Short temper.

X-rays: Teeth, lungs and shoulder are the only ones I can remember, but there could be more.

Yummy stuff: Oh, lots! Ice cream, good pizza, gummy candies, dark chocolate, a really juicy burger.
Zoo animal I like most: all of them!

Meme Stuff | 1 Comment »

I know, imagine this - an actual post about knitting. I *finally* finished the Lush and Lacy cardigan and wore it yesterday. Overall, I am really happy with how it came out. I know that I took a big risk by dyeing a whole garment rather than just yarn. Even more so that it was my first dyeing experience.

As predicted, the initial results did come out a bit spotty. But I was fine with not having a uniform color - I didn’t mind some variegation as I felt it would look hand dyed and that’s ok - it’s just the old ugly color showing through looked somewhat brownish against the new bright happy green. My solution - mix up more Kool Aid in a glass - take an old pastry brush - go over spotty areas - microwave 2 minutes to set the color. I did this a couple of times, and I’m completely satisfied with the result.

Yarn used - Elann Pure Alpaca in a dull grayish green that depressed me.

Kool Aid used - Lemon Lime, 50 packets purchased, maybe 30-35 total used.

Knitting Stuff | 20 Comments »