Tuesday, October 31, 2006

I made it with 3 hours to spare!

Woo Hoo. I just finished my socktoberfest socks, and here they are.

I made these beauties for my signifigant other because he said that I never make anything for him. I have no idea what he's talking about cause I just made him a scarf this past February (which he lost on NJ Transit no less). Anyhoo, we have to keep our boo's happy, don't we? I'm sorry, I'm going off on a tangent here, it's just that I missed blogging, for real (insert part about trying to be a better blogger, yada yada yada). So here are the specs:

Name: Atmos socks

Pattern: Made up by your truly based on the Organ Pipes stitch pattern in the first Treasury of Knitting Patterns book by Barbara Walker.

Yarn: Lane Borgosesia by Zegna Baruffa - Hilton Print color #5. This is 100% merino wool yarn that I picked up from the Joan Vass sale earlier this year. I wish they had 'pet-o-vision' so you could feel how soft this is. It's like butta.

Date Started: October 1st

Date Finished: October 31st

Looky, looky, it took me exactly a month to make these socks. Ususally it doesn't take me that long but I knitted a beret in between there somewhere and of course Rhinebeck. I wont bore you with my Rhinebeck story, I'm sure you've read about the happenings all around the blogosphere. To put it shortly, I had a great time hanging out with my family and my friends and of course, I was sick but frontin' like I wasn't. Next year, I'm going to start taking airborne a week before I have anything remotely fun planned that involves knitting and fiber. I'll post pics of my haul as soon as I find my battery recharger so stay tuned.

I've been spinning like a mad woman and I'll post pics of some of my handspun yarn soon. It's just that I'm too impatient to sit there and actually fill a bobbin up. I think the most I've spun would be 96 yards from roving that I received from my Spinning/Roving swap pal (you can see pictures of what I got on her blog because of course I haven't gotten around to taking any pictures.) I'm also planning on trekking my journey in acid dyes for anyone who's interested. I also need to get crackin on that sweater knit along. Do you think there's any way that someone can add like 4 more hours to the day? Do you know how much more crafty stuff I would get accomplished in that time? 28 seems like a nice round number... or better yet, just round it off to like a 30 hour day.

I'm rambling now and I think I'm becoming delerious from the lack of sleep (damn that spinning wheel and the 4 pounds of fleece in my closet). So let me get to bed.

Oh, before I forget, if you like short stories please stop over at my girl Cathy's blog. There is no knitting content but my girl is very talented. She wrote a three part short story that just blew my mind. Just a warning, this story is only for the grown and sexy.

Happy Knittin'

Friday, October 20, 2006

My Poor Excuse For A Proper Post

Because of the move, I currently have no internet access at home so I can't really blog the way I want to. I've been spinning like crazy on my wheel but sorry guys, no pictures. I'm also really pissed right now because I'm going to Rhinebeck tomorrow and guess what.....I'm getting that little tickle in my throat again. I cannot even explain to you the level of pissedness that I am experiencing right now. I'm going to try and fight this thing with all of my being and hopefully I'll be able to enjoy myself tomorrow. So if you see me, make sure you say hi but keep your distance just in case.

So, here's my poor excuse for a post just because everybody else is doing it. Ciao.

1. FIRST NAME? Chante

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Here's the story I was told:
My parents were sitting at my Nana's house trying to think up a name for me if I was a girl. My cousin Todd who was acting on the show 3-2-1 Contact (who remembers that show from PBS Hmmm?) at the time had a huge crush on this girl from the Mickey Mouse Club and her name was Chante Yvette. So he suggested they name me that and they did (Thanks Todd)!

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Yesterday. I came to a very sad part of this book I'm reading. It hit too close to home.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? I like my print but I don't like my script.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Plain old Honey Turkey.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yup, but I think I would have to tell me to "shut up, you talk to much" every once in a while.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? This one right here.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes but I wish my ENT doctor would just yank em out already. Geez.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Captain Crunch (yeah, I like the crunch)

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? I think I may be the only person who actually does untie their shoes before taking them off.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yup.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Actually, My favorite Ice cream right now is from the Cold Stone Creamery and I always get Cake Batter Ice Cream with Strawberries, Bananas and Crushed Graham Cracker Pie Crust mixed in (Heaven I tell ya)

14. SHOE SIZE? 8 1/2

15. RED OR PINK? Definately Red ( I hate Pink)

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I procrastinate way too much.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My Brother. He moved upstate but I'll be lucky if I see him once a year.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Whatever floats your boat.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Navy pants, Black top, black shoes.

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? A half of blueberry muffin.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Kiss FM.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Green....Just Green.

23. FAVORITE SMELL? Ya'll will prolly think this is disgusting but it's actually when my Mom used to cook her famouse pig tails and lima beans.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My Bestfriend/Boyfriend

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Lips

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? Sure do.

27. FAVORITE DRINK? Green Tea (from a Japanese Sushi Bar)

28. FAVORITE SPORT? Are ya ready for some Football!

29. EYE COLOR? dark brown.

30. HAT SIZE? Who knows

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Nope.

32. FAVORITE FOOD? Sushi

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings.

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer.

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Nice Warm Hugs.

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Banana Pudding Paula Dean style with the Chessmen instead of vanilla cookies.

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Chocolate Covered Forbidden Fruit by Trista Russell

41. WHAT’S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? Plain blue.

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? The whole ABC line up Ugly Betty, Greys and 6 Degrees.

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? My son's giggle.

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles.

45. THE FURTHEST YOU’VE BEEN FROM HOME? Chicago

46. WHAT’S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Can't think of any right now.

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Harlem USA

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I stole it from Tawanna's blog.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Lets play catch up, shall we?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. I'm late. As you may already know, I attended this years New York Knit & Crochet Out held in Union square. Here's my journey in pictures.

First off, while riding the 6 to get to this event I started to feel a little tickle in my throat. I've had problems before with my tonsils so I know the warning signs of getting sick. At that point I could've went back home and drug myself up so that I could've avoid getting the full brunt of whatever germs were attacking my body. But you know what, I waited all year for this even and dagnammit I had plans. I wasn't about to let a little tonsilitis get in my way!

I sat down for a spell to knit a little, then I decided to take a stroll. Then I hear a voice that says "Excuse me but are you Harlem Purls?". I looked up to see my fellow sistah friend Divine Ladi (yay). Of course we chatted for a bit before I started wandering again.

Here she is pictured in the green shirt along side DramaQueen. What a small world. These two happen to be close buddies of my secret sistah swap pal Kellz.

After that I ran into Tawana at the fashion show, then we met up with Necia, Jeanine, Rosie, Kim and Marva. I couldn't really chat with them like a wanted because I was busy teaching someone how to knit but you know how it is when us knitters get together.I tracked down Lily Chin and got a pic with her. See?

Then they all went off to join the Sit N Knit group while I went off to the knitting tent to teach.

By this time my throat is killing me but I refuse to pay it any mind. Like I told you, I had plans! So I closed down the knit out then proceeded to Knitty City to meet none other than the Yarn Harlot. I asked one teensy little question and she called me a trouble maker. Moi? *devilish grin*

When we first sat down I spotted someone in the crowd who looked familiar. I started staring at her trying to place her face. The conversation kinda went like this:

Me: I know you!

Her: O.K.

Me: You have a blog right?

Her: Uh Huh.

Me: Your a Sistah Friend?

Her: Yes.

Me: Don't tell me the name of your blog....Don't tell me....OK tell me.

Her: A Knitter in Queens.

Here we are pictured with Sahara. Sahara was rocking that dress also.

So that was my day. I felt sick as a dog by the time I left to go home but it was all worth it. On my walk home I saw this on a wall and it evocked all types of emotions in me. My mom passed away on October 17th 2002 so I want to dedicate this picture to her.

Happy knitting.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Viva La Socktoberfest



If you look reeeeeeeally closely, you can see part of yankee stadium in the background. Those fans are really really loud!