Fraggle Stick Car: March 2006

I am acceptable!

So my news de jour - I've been accepted to speak on a panel at this year's Siggraph in Boston. Aparently my views are important enough for people to pay to hear them! Woo!

The topic is "Video Games: Content and Responsibility" and I think they choose me because a) I'm female and in the game industry and b) I'm damn well opinionated.

I am so excited for so many reasons :)

In other news, the fabulous J (f) of J n J fame kindly offered to make the divinly annoying crochet cloche hat. Thank you so much! I do feel that I need to conquer my hatred and fear and battle through this one. Give me a few weeks, if it is still going badly, I may back down and beg for help!

Lastly. Here's a shot from the roomie bbq we held on Sunday. CRAZY, I know... BBQ and it is still March. We totally lucked out on both weather and company - both were wonderful.

Here I am with cupcakes! And 2 pairs of glasses...

C is for Crappy...

The curse of crochet is back - I am crap at it... Really bad.

I have tried (and got 3/4 way through) this hat TWICE this weekend, and still the yarn looks like electric blue ramen... Damn you stitch diva and your funky must haves!

Someone help me! Anyone recommend any good teach yerself to crochet books?!

I am dying to get this hat in the yarn that J (f) of J and J spun me for my birthday...

In other news, I've finished the caplet and some cashmere gauntlets for me! Woo! Pics soon

V for Vendetter

First, I'm going to say that this is a film that you should see, I thought it was pretty damn good.

BUT, I have 2 problems (outside of screenplay changes, heavy handed depictions of both lesbians and religious differences). What the FUCK happened with accents?

First off, shame on you Stephen Rea - my people rhyme "lever" with "fever" and not "never". You should know better... it snapped me out of what should have been a poignant scene near the end.

But most importantly (and I'll give you an exerpt of the BBC review of the film to prove that I'm not the only pedantic English girl that thinks this):-

...the majority of Portman’s energy is devoted to wrestling with an English accent (she loses).

It was depressingly bad, not Angelina bad, but constantly jarred me out of the film. I would be interested in seeing this film in Britain, I'm guessing that the reaction of the audiences would be a lot different, but not for the political reasons that people probably think

Despite the fact that I don't think any limey worth their salt has forgotten anything about the 5th of November, you could at least have got the hung, drawn and quartered right...

Rant over.

The tale of how I found out about my angora alergy

Until recently, I didn't think I was alergic to anything, other than crappy "metal" earrings that make me break out in hives, and people who thing they can do an English accent.

That was, until I was making a nice little pair of gloves and scarf... I've had to donate these, at least I will when I can bring myself to finish knitting the scarf. The lucky recipient? Dr. L! COME ON DOWN!!!

Damn you, oh temptress Ms Louisa Harding and your temptingly luxurious 70% angora mix Kimono Angora. DAMN YOU! I am, however, fickle in my damnations - I still have your Kashmir Aran and your design collection book in my eye. You lucky lass!

Another year older... but... lots of knitting news!

So - first things first, I'd like to thank all my friends who helped celebrate my birthday. I was truly touched by everyone's presence, even if I showed my appreciation by drinking far too much than is appropriate after college.

I'm sure you'll all be happy to hear that I have struck down with a cold for the last week now, which is just proving to me that I'm a big wuss these days.

So - a much needed update on some knitting related stuff. Firstly - A HUGE thank you to J (f) of J and J fame for this beautiful yarn she spun me for my birthday. Roving purchased at Stiches West. The dark blue / purple is wensleydale and the second is a merino / silk blend. Sooooo pretty :)

And the rest of my birthday related Stitches West Schwag...

There's 100 yrds ofworsted, hand dyed CASHMERE from Lobster Pot Yarns (they don't have the Cashmere on this site though). This is nestled in 500 yds of DUET, a dark violet kid mohair / fine wool blend from Notable Yarns from Brooks Farm. Then there is some lovely gently varigated aqua mohair merino blend, Billy the Kid Yarn from Blue Moon. These folks only sell the Socks that Rock yarn on their site. This is the stuff that is on the needles, rapidly becoming the Stitch Diva Casual Capelet.

Oh yeah... and then there is the new Jordana Paige bag to put it all in ;)

I think my pink thing is leaving, just a little and maybe just for now. Seems like electric blue is my new thang, and I'm kinda loving it

I did make other purchases - mainly some gifts for my secret pal the lucky devil :)

Knitting updates!

Some long overdue completed knitting projects!

Here's a taster... Captain Rock's gauntlets of Awesomness

The action shot! Made from some soft yarn in my stash and a pattern I winged it for, that had lots of input from the client.

Click for many more projects if you are interested in the many MANY things I've been too lazy to post about recently.

This is a Shrug made from Rowan Kid Classic and a pattern free with the yarn from the Urban Knitting Studio