flower of the week

My new favorite: parrot tulips! like an early peony. can't wait for the purple ones to come up.

Look what I scored!

3 kings monkey!, originally uploaded by kimmiecashie.

Adriana made me this insanely adorable crocheted monkey for our holiday knitter swap. Wow. I love it. I wish there was more than 2 minutes of daylight in these parts so I could photograph the immense detail.

finished object Wednesday!

pattern: Bumble up scarf
yarn spud and chloe outer in carbon(1) and soapstone(2)

The pic is dark and I'm holding back my mad hair, but you get the idea.

new years resolution WIP

This year I decided to try to take better care of my eyes and not sleep in my contacts. Okay, that's not realistic for me. I'm not going to sleep in my contacts every night. I cannot see much without them and I'm a stumbly mess until contacts are in my peepers. I can hardly find my glasses in the morning or see the alarm clock. So here I am getting ready for bed in my ugly glasses and new egyptian cotton jammies from James holding my new contact case. I hope to God I can find it in the morning.

3/50 Local Business Project

In an effort to keep money in the community I've decided to do the 3/50 project in June. There's more info on the project here As much as I enjoy the bargains of online shopping and chains, zero dollars returns to the place I call home when I shop online and only 43% when I make a target run.

If I counted wegmans The challenge wouldn't be a challenge because I basically hand them gobs of money every month. So I decided to make it small local businesses.

This was harder than I thought. I thought I would cheat and include the down payments for the reception site and the band our upcoming wedding. Well I thought that was probably cheating too.
So here are my 3 local business I supported this month.

1.) Waterlily Spa.
I"m hesitant to recommend this place cause if it gets busy and loses it's small place charm I'll cry. But considering 7 people read this blog it's cool. This is an amazing itty bitty spa owned by the sweetest prettiest lady Beth. It's calmer, and quieter than the big name places in town. Dawn is the most amazing waxer and Jenny give a phenomenal pedicure and we chat about our coonhounds. If you are a germa-phobe it is the cleanest place to get a pedicure. No jets for dirty water to back up in. personally, I'm not afraid of foot fungus.

2.) Then I treated my animals to Park Ave Pets . A very adorable pet store on Monroe Ave. I picked up some litter, and dog food, a stuffed mouse that Beau had no interest in and a dog toy for Bertie. My total came to $50.07. I was impressed with myself.

3.) Then I needed some knitting needles. How have I not purchased every needle under the sun at this point? I got the nice addi turbos at Yarn Boutique. Love them. I didn't spend $ 50.00 dollars there. 1 cause I'ma cheater and 2 cause the owner discounted them. I've never in my life seen any yarn store discount needles. Amelia is amazing.

and then some.)Then my house and car fell apart. I had a repair done by a big name plumber. Hey if you know a good plumber in the Rochester area that doesn't have a 3 month waiting list, let me know. Then I was impatient and forgot that I could learn to patch the holes in the wall from the plumber and that I have a fairly handy fiance. So like an idiot I hired a guy to do that. Then during a routine oil change and my pesky check engine light was on. This is typical with my old stupid european car that I for some reason love. Turns out I need not one but two cadalydic converters. It is just my calling to support local business this month. Blargh. But I have to say the guys at Sutherland are amazing. So nice, prompt, honest and fair.



So long story short, this month I'm broke, but I did my part for the Rochester I love.

hooray for rosey girl

I chose a commenter at random and rosey girl won 2 skeins of cashmerino.

the art of giving (or not giving) hand knit gifts

When I first started knitting I knit every one I could think of something at Christmas. Then I slowly came to believe I would knit only for those that appreciated it. That left my sisters and babies. Babies don't usually show their disdain for hand knits. Well, the list is getting shorter and shorter. I may have to stick to knitting only for other knitters and of course, babies.

A few weeks ago, my sister a sewer got on the threadbanger site and wanted to show me some cowls and scarflettes. She was hinting that I could maybe knit her one. I noticed one in the my so called scarf pattern. I said," hey that's like the scarf I knit you Christmas 2007." Her response was less than thrilling. "It is?" sh had no recollection of it. Even when I looked up the colorway. Then I realized it was on ravelry clearly stated that it was made for Missy. Still nothing. Oh boy! We were both embarassed. I think I need to rethink my knit gift giving policy.

I have more yarn to give away. This is some debbie bliss cashmerino aran in a nice spring color. There are 2 skeins in moss. A total of 180 meters or 196.8 yards. Leave me a comment about your handknit giving gift policy or a favorite gift you received and I'll select someone at random to send this too.

and the winner is...

Erin is the winner of the pink manos and although it isn't much, I donated $10.00 to food not bombs in her honor. Happy Weekend all.

Giveaway! deadline: Saturday 2/7

So I'm back to blogging again...for now. My poor defunct little blog. I think I like the idea of knitting more than actual knitting. After cleaning out my stash I know I definitely like buying yarn more than I like knitting it. That's not completely true. I just really like colors and texture even if I have no idea what I will do with them. My big downfall has been the close of several LYSs. Which brought some serious sales that I definitely partook in. I partook without any idea what I would knit this yarn into.

Last weekend, I dumped my entire stash on the floor. Serious mountain of yarn carnage. I thought about taking a picture and sharing it but it was too disturbing. I destashed about 35% of the stash. I'll never take the time to photograph and sell it all. So I decided to send a substantial box to Interim House . A residential and outpatient rehab facility where their knitting program has really taken off. If my impulsiveness can help someone find the therapeutic gifts knitting has to offer than it hasn't all been a waste.

There were several skeins that I kept to giveaway. Why you may I ask. Because I liked them too much to give to a someone that wouldn't love it. Or maybe it will keep me more accountable to my blog. I dunno. So in the spirit of pending valentines day I am giving away 4 very pink skeins(138 yds x's 4) of Manos del Uruguay wool in color #47, Cerise. Just leave a comment saying what your favorite charity is and I will pick someone at random. Considering no one reads this definct blog your odds of winning are real high.

If you are reading this and haven't voted yet, Go out and vote! Especially if you vote like I do. ;-)

my first fair isle

Lillehamer is finished. I was very nervous about it being I messed my first colorwork project up big time. This was knit on size 5 needles using Knitpicks telemark in black, charcoal heather and bayberry.

This is also the project that I discovered the true magic of blocking. It was pretty lumpy and bumpy not to mention looking like it would fit a toddler at best and not a grown man with a full head of hair.

I made this for Chip. A long time business associate, for lack of a better term, of my family. He's like a version of my Dad, but more grown up with a full time job. I got word that he was retiring from my Uncle and cried and then made a hat. He is an avid skier and I thought that in his retirement he could use a new hat to do more skiing in. Turns out my Uncle is crazy and he is not retiring. With a fibbing family like mine, I need a Chip in my life. At least for another year or so.

final summer of yarn love package.

My secret pal was Joanne, who was oh so good to me.

woops I messed up the Uh Ohs.

uh oh 2, originally uploaded by kimmiecashie.

I finally felted something publicly. he way felted items feels gives me the creeps. J thinks I have Synesthesia but I just have texture issues. I don't hear colors I just don't like the way chenille and felted goods feel. I don't really like how broccoli tickles the roof of my mouth and I definitely don't like o be surprised by tapioca balls in bubble tea. Are you supposed to chew them or just swallow?
Anyways, I made this piece for baby K. When finishing up these guys, I really saw the top nubs as ears and not arms. Then I looked at some others on ravelry and they are definitely arms. And then I looked at the pattern. Yeah, they are arms. I was abut to rip out the stitches and then I remember that baby K doesn't know the difference between and ear and an arm.

dog thursdays & announcement

I am going out of town for a bit for some fun and then to give my support to my Dad & Uncle. Not exactly sure when I'll be back but will post something knitting related in the near future.

I realize I"m way overdue for a blog post. Truth be told I"m in a knitting funk. I started a coffee cozy from a blog pattern that was too small. So that will take some tweeking that I'm just not in the mood for. Not that I need a reason to be a grump, but my Aunt Charlotte recently passed away and my Grandpa probably has a few more days of life. I've been downloading patterns like nobodies business. Mostly knitted toys which I've never had any interest in. The number of babies in my life has grown exponentially with the birth of Jameson, Kyla and the recent Jack Dangerfield in the last 6 months. Mostly the pattern downloading is I just like a fresh start when I'm sad, or bored. So next post I hope to have something more interesting and knitting related to post.

check out the loot I scored

I found this on my doorstep Sunday. It's a beautifully wrapped from my pal from the summer of yarn love swap. In the box I found a cute little skein of o-wool in a tweedy pink. Not sure what I'll make with it yet. Any suggestions?

I also scored some cow corn holders, chocolate, incense, candles, a kooky food book, a Mamas and papas CD and the scariest jelly bellies evah! Thanks secret pal for a very summer themed gift.

the boys love laundry day

destashing .

***WARNING***The following photos may break some yarn addicts hearts***


My friend Bill rescued Beau after his former owners threw him in a dumpster. Beau doesn't know he is dumpster kitty. He only deserves the best in life...or else. Or else, he will find a basket of squishy yarn to pee in.




One of the things I was looking forward to when I moved into the house was putting the dreaded litter box in the basement. Whenever I had company coming over, nature called for Beau. So annoying! My cat is also a fancy-pants. I have always changed his litter once a week. Not even the scoop thing...a complete change. Now that the box is in the basement, I let it slip and hadn't changed it in 2 weeks.










So I had some necessary destashing to do. Fortunately, nothing too valuable was ruined. Beau didn't get get returned to a dumpster but he was put in the basement for 2 hours until I cleaned up the mess and soothed myself with a couple episodes of the Office.

In the meantime, honeymoon cami is going smoothly. Just waiting for more yarn to come in. The last ball needed was pissed on by you know who.

scary things everywhere

scary cat, originally uploaded by kimmiecashie.

Last time I went home, I saw a little something that was just part of the scenery when I lived at home. With some time and space I can see how creepy it is. I'm sure everything from my childhood home that seemed normal is indeed creepy and wrong. So now I give you creepy handmade ceramic kitty in a dress. Siting next to a bunny in a dress. Goo!

I made food!

Yesterday I made a pizza with a banana pepper FROM MY GARDEN! Yipee! I have actually veggies growing in my garden. By the way isn't that pic very american gothic. Not meant to be that way but still funny. The beans I started them from seed in my basement. I'm tickled by my teeny tiny tomatoes too! I had no idea how satisfying a veggie garden could be. I want to make sauce from my roma tomato plant. If anyone knows how to do that, let me know.

I do have a gardening flop though. I neglected my basil plant and it flowered like crazy and I have some bitter basil on my hands. Fortunately, I have another plant.

Supposedly, food taste better from your own garden. I'll be honest. That pepper tasted fair and my strawberries are very tart. But I'm still so excited that I actually grew food.