Missing out

If you are still coming here, you are missing out all of the fun over at the new site:

http://lollygirl.com/blog

Please update your sidebar links and Bloglines! :)

Movin' on Up

(Sung to the tune of the The Jefferson's theme song)

Well I'm movin' on up,
To my own site.
To a deluxe webpage in the sky.

Movin' on up
To my own site.
I finally got a piece of the pie.

Lollygirl.com is born!

In other words, go there from now on :)

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a safe and fun holiday!

Tomorrow is the big day for me, I start a new job, and I am totally excited!

Nice things about my new job:

• Kris works at the same place.
• My new boss ROCKS!
• It is a job in the Archives/Special Collections = my focus in library science.
• It is closer to my house, but still near my school in the city.
• It pays better.

So, what is not to love? My previous job, one that I only stayed at for 6 weeks, was okay, but when this new opportunity came, I felt that I could not pass it by. Plus, I was having a difficult time getting into the groove there. I was commuting nearly 3 hours a day for a part-time job--and it was just not worth it.

It appears that 2005 will start out with a bang--it is going to be a busy year, I can already feel it!

Now, onto the reason that you are actually here... what we dream about, what we think about every waking moment... (or is that just me?)

Lucky Lolly got to spend two days (in a row!) with these lovely ladies!! Heather and "Pixie" Jenna came over to mi casa on Thursday for a night of knitting fun (and we even watched The Little Mermaid!) and then we met at All About Yarn on Friday for some knitting time! So much fun!

...and we even had another special visitor...

JENNA PINK MONKEY!!! Jenna is heading out this week for a two-month stay in INDIA! She is going to be working in a Women's Center in northern India teaching women how to knit!!! She set up a travel blog Jenna In India, so that we can all keep track of her!! She is diligently sewing up her Kyoto sweater... can't wait to see the end product!

While at the lovely LYS, I found some great things:

All of that Sisik is for one of the Dale of Norway patterns:

BALMORAL

This yarn is great, and there are some great patterns in this book.

Also picked up the sock yarn, figuring I should give the DPNs another chance.

Work continues on the Kris sweater--almost done with the front--and my wrist is feeling better!

... and because I always love something new, I started a fun vertical stripe scarf with some random pink yarns that Nicole gave me:

S is for SCARF

Looking back, I accomplished a lot in 2004. I really matured in my knitting--I am still pre-pubescent though :) I made three sweaters (none of which I have worn out of the house...) about 10 scarves, 1 pair of wristlets, 4 stoles/shawls, and 1 hat... probably some other things that I am forgetting...

So, what do I want to learn and do in 2005?

• How to spin (Amie is coming over on Tuesday to teach me!!)


• How to crochet (perhaps you can help with that, H?)


• Expand my knowledge of knitting techniques, by "cutting my teeth" on some intarsia and fair-isle (and other color works)


• Improve my finishing skills, and have garments that actually fit me.


• Design my own patterns :)

And what patterns do I want to tackle in 2005?

• Alchemy Pullover from SPIII Elka


• Dale of Norway Balmoral


• Rowan Angie (Cotton Tape collection) + Virtue to match!


• A few from Knitty
  
• ... and many more that I have bookmarked in all of the magazines!

Stay tuned... I have something cool to show you really soon!!!!

Cradle Robber

That's right... I am a cradle robber.

Kris turned 24 yesterday... I am a whole 6 weeks older!

Happy Birthday Bear!

So we celebrated Kris's birthday tonight with dinner and drinks!

I am wishing Kris a happy birthday! Yummy Appletini with a cherry on top!

Thank you for the kind comments about my Christmas gifts. It was so cold here in Maryland today, I hope that they all were able to use their warm presents!

So, the post-holiday knitting spree has begun. I am finishing up all of the things before the holiday knitting started. I knit ALL day yesterday... and my wrist pains prove it. Wow... I feel like such a wimp, but my left wrist feels like it is broken! It is strange why it would be my left wrist. I knit continental, and all my left wrist does is stay there and hold a little tension... the right one is the one that is working. Nevertheless, my little velcro bandage seems to help a little. I am knitting through the pain!

The Kris sweater is growing fast. I worked on this while going to PA on Christmas day, and also on the way home (even though it was getting dark...) I am about 1/2 way through the front. The back is already done, and then with the sleeves... I think I should be able to wrap this one up soon--enough time for him to wear it before the spring!

I need a portable project for all of my train riding, and this lovely mohair is just the ticket. I am in love with this colorway! It is the simple fan pattern that I have been working on alot lately. I think my fingers have it all memorized, after mom's Christmas stole! The next portable project is destined to be some socks. I cannot wait to tackle those bad boys!

I found the only redeeming quality about the new FCEK to be this cardi. So, I am officially adding it to my list of Things to Knit. I like the simplicity, and it can be dressed up or down... just like me :) Other than this one, this mag sincerely sucked... come on designers! Let us have some quality stuff!

Lolly got some great knitty books for Christmas! Can't wait to dig in!



...I also received some lovely presents & cards from some knitty friends!
Thank you for thinking of me!

Countdown to the NEW JOB: 7 days!

Lolly's Mysteries Revealed

Christmas Eve celebration with my family went very well - always fun to hang out with them. After a yummy lunch, we begin to open presents.

I was so excited for my family to open their presents, I could barely stand it!

Mom's Feather and Fan Stole Yarn:Ironstone Mohair from Folk Art Studio Pattern: Adapted from this pattern

Dad's Tweed Ribbed Scarf Yarn:Classic Elite New Tweed from Elann.com Pattern:2 x 2 rib for 5 feet

Mimi's Diva Shawl Yarn:K1C2 Tartalette from FASC Pattern:Distributed by K1C2

Sarah's Cable Scarf Modeled by Sadie Yarn:Araucania Wool Pattern: My Own!

See? I was knitting up a storm... I just couldn't show you everything!



We are headed up bright and early to visit Kris's family in Pennsylvania... plenty of time to knit in the car!

Whistle While You Knit

Contrary to what you might think… I have not fallen off the face of the planet.

I left you over a week ago in a lurch—I was finishing up my LAST project for school, and then I had two interviews! Well, the follow-up: I got an A on the project, and I got BOTH jobs! This is a good thing, because they are both part-time, and allow me to go to school and have a life at the same time (at least that is the way that it appears at this moment!)

I have been knitting up a storm—but until now, it has been very clandestine. All the things I was knitting were gifties, and the recipients are loyal readers (yo yo family!), so tomorrow, after the Christmas Eve celebration, I will reveal to you the mysteries of the LollyKnit Universe! I promise!

In true Lolly-style, I have been sittin’ and knittin’ with some of my peeps!

See Jenna (and me)... We have met up several times in the last few weeks. She is counting down her days before leaving for the other side of the world (INDIA) but we have been able to fit in some great conversations, and a little knitting into our short and sweet meetings. I am totally excited to see what happens on her amazing trip!

Then I just got back from knitting with Heather and Nicole (who remains blogless). We met up the other night at Eilene's Christmas party, and we decided to fit in one more knit night before the holiday! Ei was not able to make it, but as you can see, we kept ourselves busy with knitting...

We got our first snow in Maryland. It was totally wimpy, and barely covered the grass, but it was snow nonetheless, and I loved it! I am hoping for more very soon! ...and then I can play in it and not have to go to work.

I can show you Kris's newest knitty project (in lieu of my own clandestine knits). It is hard to see in this shot, but there is a distinct design that Kris charted up himself! It is a small circle that alternates between stockinette and reverse stockinette.

... And in case you were wondering...

What do dogs want for Christmas?
Simple answer:



PEANUT BUTTER! My girls LOVE this stuff!


Stay tuned for tomorrow's post...

Tomorrow Tomorrow

Tomorrow Tomorrow... you're only a day a way...

Then I will be finished with school (for this semester!) and I can knit knit knit!Once again, I have a ton of things to work on for Christmas presents, but I have a BIG paper due tomorrow, and have had little time to actually knit stuff. I will finish the presents before Christmas, however!

So, in order to keep my sanity in this *crazy* time of year...

I spent some time with the MEGANS!


Megan was a real sweety and planned a whole "Linner" (Lunch/Dinner) affair for Kris and me, and Meg and her DH, Matt. Oh boy, did we have fun! Megan is an awesome cook, and served up some yummy snacks and a great veggie soup and zucchini parmesean (yummy vegetarian food!)

We were knitting away, and our DHs were left unsupervised:

They talked about football the entire time... and then played PS2.

...and we showed off projects, and then knit some more!

Meg's first foray into lace-knitting was a success! Her Charlotte's Web is stunning! She actually was starting a second one, another Christmas present... what perserverance! I think that a third one should definitely be for you, Meg! :)

Megan just finished the SnB Nation Monster Slippers! Googly eyes! Of course, monsters have three eyes... and they even google around when she walks! Über cool, MM! I think that I need some now... my feet are cold! :P

After Linner at Megan's, we headed over to the niece's Christmas Pagent! LOVE my girls! They are on both ends of this picture... Krista is the tiny blond who got cut out of the pic (thanks to Uncle Kris), and McKayla is the lovely brunette on the opposite side.

... and to celebrate the end of the semester, I have several knit dates set up! HUA! Jenna tomorrow (I will take pics!), and hopefully with my girls Ei and Heather on Thursday!

My regular knitting will resume one day soon... I have so many wonderful projects in mind... I think I will finish the two sweaters that got put on the back burner (FCEK cardi and Kris sweater) and then move on to some of the lovelies I have been dreaming about... like the amazing Alchemy Woman Pullover that amazing Elka sent to me for SPIII.
... and then all that stuff from the new Knitty
... and all those pattern books that I have bookmarked ...
The possibilities are endless! :)

I have an interview tomorrow, and another one on Wednesday... yeah, I know I just changed jobs, right? Well, I might be changing again... I will tell you the story in due time...

Peace, Love, and Knittiness to you all!