The weather is going crazy. Today it's 70 degrees. It was freezing two days ago. I can't keep up! I need some consistency, as in consistently sunny and 70 degrees. That's what I'm talking about. (I commented to my friend that it "might be too hot to run" and she noted that very recently I was claiming that it was "too cold to run." D'oh. I guess I can't blame the weather for my crappy dedication to running.)

I've been a little inconsistent myself with the knitting. Maybe it's the weather, but I've suddenly found all these things that I want to knit RIGHT NOW. They are jumping out at me from blogs, knocking me over with their cuteness, and then I freak out and start yet another project.

For example: Green Gable? HI. SO CUTE. I love! I must have. Luckily, I had a gift certificate for Knitpicks from my sister Michelle, so I ordered some yarn. (I don't want to tell you what yarn I ordered because I'm afraid I'm not going to get gauge and then you'll laugh at me and think that I should've known better. Okay, I'll tell you. It's Shine.) [ EDITED TO ADD: Kelly has suggested a Green Gable knitalong, and I think that is a great idea! Any takers? ]

Then, I realized that an event was coming up v. soon that warranted a new knit for someone special, and I started something else new. And miraculously found the perfect pattern for my two balls of yummydelicious Manos:

Funky. and soft. I love.
(I can tell you who it's for once I send it!)

And THEN, a dear friend gifted me with the fabulous new Mason-Dixon Knitting book (which, by the way, is absolutely amazing. GO GET THIS BOOK. I read the thing from cover to cover last night, and it's really original and inspiring.) ...unfortunately, it's so inspiring that I dropped the scarf I was knitting (see above) and cast on for a log-cabin blanket. Will the madness end?

What about my cabley sweater, that I was SOOOOO in love with? What about Sockapaloooza Pal Sock #2? What about the soufflet-less baby onesie? I'm a fickle knitter these days, I admit it. But it's SO MUCH FUN.

It helps that my yarn stash has grown quite a bit since I first started knitting, and my stash is where I usually go for project inspiration. Anne Marie and I both do this: go to the yarn haul, and find the yarn first, then try and find a project to match it.

I was cleaning out my yarn stash this week (and realizing that I really need some more storage for the yarn) and The Pants started asking about the stash, mostly WHYWHYWHY. "Why," he asked, "do you have that one ball of yellow yarn? What can you make with that ONE BALL?" Now, clearly the boy is yarn-smart because he knows that there isn't always much to make with one ball of yarn. But, what he didn't know is that there were a bunch of other balls of the same type of yarn in a different color. So I listed off the things I *could* make with it: stripey hat. stripey scarf. baby booties. arm warmers. stripey tank top.

And he was like, "well, ARE YOU going to make that stuff?" ...and I don't really know. I had so much trouble explaining the stash to him! And even more trouble explaining why I'm really excited about going to Maryland Sheep and Wool and buying MORE yarn. I think I'll leave a few of the Yarn Harlot's essays on stash laying around so he can read them. Ha.

The pretty weather today is making me all smiley and happy about things, so I'm babbling...I hope you're getting some sunshine too!

Posted by Carrieoke at 2:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (34)

What. a. weekend. My (not really wedding-appropriate) band played at a wedding reception, which was seriously one of the most surreal things I've ever done. More on that later. I'll just say this: we had to change some of our lyrics to omit foul language, there was totally a priest in the audience who HATED us, and James Brown almost saw us perform. ha.

For now, some pictures. I still get really excited when I actually wear one of my handknits to work/play/real life, since I'm just now getting to the point where I knit things that I can wear a lot. So, I snapped a picture of my Cutaway when I wore it to work last week:

Yep, I wore it. And it looked like a sweater.

Yay, wearable knits. Here's another success: one finished Sockapaloooza sock!

It fits - I've tried it on two people. They had clean feet.

I'm so excited about this sock! Garter Rib, using the fabulous Sensational Knitted Socks. I've already cast on for sock #2 - and it's not even due until May! I'm on time! Woo-hoo! Exclamation points all around!

And for those who aren't sick of dog pictures, Jacob caught Bella lounging on my pillow and took this picture of her:

Please. I'm relaxing.

Schmoo. I'm hoping to print this one and hang it in my office, because my dog is that. cute.

More knitting pictures this week. I've finished the onesie, except for the soufflet (which I think is French for the piece of fabric that you put in between the tiny legs of a baby onesie to give the baby more room). It's the one part of the directions that I'm having trouble translating. We shall see how that goes...

And, this week I started seriously working on grad school stuff: recommendations, application, statement of purpose. I'm applying for two programs that are very similar in hopes that one will accept me. Can I bribe the admissions committee with handknitted goodness? I know throwing some yarn my way could sway my decisions...JUST KIDDING. Acccckkkkk.

Posted by Carrieoke at 1:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (32)

[edited to add: I read about the Auntie Meme over at JenLa, and I had to do it...click on the extended entry down at the bottom if you wanna read. ]

Spring Break is OVER! And, appropriately, the weather has changed to cold and rainy. ICK. I was hoping that we could make it to spring without one more cold spell, but no luck. Maybe this is it for the cold, though. (My apologies to those who actually live in really cold climates, but I'm a total wimp about the weather. And the humidity makes it worse. Really.)

Despite the cold, things are pretty great. For instance, did you know that my dog is the CUTEST DOG EVER? You didn't? Well, check her out post-spring haircut:

She knows how cute she is.

Also, just when I thought High Energy Jenny had fallen off the face of the earth, I spotted her at a local Chick-Fil-A, hanging out with her new friend:

The Chick-Fil-A Cow.

Since she'd been spotted, I also used Jenny as a sock model:

Sockapaloooza almost done, Sock One.

I did not finish the secret knitting project, also known as Bella's rugby sweater, or (seriously) Baby Onesie for My New Nephew. Here's the woman who should've gotten the green and white onesie this weekend at her baby shower...

That's my sister Michelle. And Brady, the yet-to-be-born.

So I kinda didn't have the knitting done. Luckily, Michelle was distracted by the delicious food and a diaper cake:

Items of distraction.
(Big thanks to Big Lug Jen, whose diaper cake successes inspired me to make one!)

...and Michelle was super nice about seeing the half-finished little onesie. The baby shower (my first EVER, both planning and attending) was super fun, and baby gifts are tiny and cute. Just don't let the ladies start talking about their breast-feeding experiences...(although, if I talk openly about my explosive diarrhea, I guess I should be able to handle some breast milk talk.)

And so, there you have it. It's been busy, but fun, and it's gonna warm back up soon, and then I can sit outside and knit in the sun. yayayayayayay.

I normally forget to do memes because I am lame and a little lazy, but this one seemed fun! Here ya go...

1. A blog which you think people have not discovered.
Robin of Sunshine Knits -- I love her puppy pictures!

2. A blog whose author lives close to you physically. Just get as close as you can, it’s all relative.
High Energy Jenny lives about 10 minutes from me, as does Anne Marie. Aren't I lucky?

3. An unusual or weird animal picture.
Any picture of Marnie's Panda makes me happyhappy - that dog is such a SCHMOO. But I love this yarny pose : [ click for entry ]. hey Panda! whosagoodgirl?

4. An entry that made you laugh and got you strange looks from family or co-workers.
Well, it's hard for me to pick one entry from either of these ladies, because they both make me laugh on a regular basis.
But Not Scarlett's post about jury duty is priceless, and the Big Lug's telling of her office holiday party is too. They are both freakin' hilarious.

5. An idea you wish you’d thought of.
I wish I'd thought of having rotating fabulous pictures in my banner like Cara did.

6. Something you’d like to knit. (Links are to the knits and knitters that have inspired me.)

Carrie's Somewhat Cowl is gorgeous...I must knit that sweater!
Glamypre Stefanie's designs are so wearable and fun to knit ..
and everything Anna knits or designs makes me want to run out and buy the yarn for it - here's one example!

7. A picture of something you consider beautiful
Um, ANY of Felicia's entries have beautiful pictures, but this I love.

8. A blog whose author you’d like to one day meet in person
I'd really like to meet Cari from Dogs Steal Yarn.

9. A blog of someone you have already met in person.
Vibegrrl - she is hilarious and fun and down-to-earth. I wish she lived closer!
The Divine Miss Em - I was so excited to meet Michelle at Rhinebeck. She is just as fabulous in person as she is on her blog. And also, today is her birthday, so go wish her a happyhappy!

Posted by Carrieoke at 1:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (41)

That's right, it's Spring Break around these parts. Now, I still have to come to work, but all the students are gone and Athens is a quiet little town....ahhhhhh. SO. NICE. Easy parking downtown, no line at the coffee shop, happy Carrieoke.

You know what else makes for a happy Carrieoke? NEW. YARN.

Beautiful yarn from Betsy of Hip Chics Knit.

Lovely Betsy gifted me with this fabulous yarn - the baby silk is seriously soft and yummy and edible, and the sock yarns are fabulous too! I've been wanting to see what the KnitPicks Simple Stripes looks like knit up...Thanks Betsy!

Then, I won a contest over at Not Scarlett, and I got *more* yumminess in the mail!

Um, hi. I'm a lucky schmoo.

Goodness. It's almost more than a girl can handle. ALMOST. Of course, all of this deliciousness must wait until I finish Gift Knitting:

I can't tell you what this is going to be.
I can tell you that it's Cotton Fleece, in Wild Sage and Cotton Ball. hee.

So, I'm knitting my little hands off to get this sucker done by the end of the week. Luckily, it's a tiny thing (hint!), so it's doable.

Oh, you guessed it! It's a rugby sweater for Bella.

Just kidding.

Well, I should go do some filing. This weather (that would be sunny and in the 70s) makes me want to shirk all of my responsibilities and lay around outside all day with knitting and beer. However, I am (mostly) a good schmoo, so I'm going to save the debauchery for the weekend. I *will* turn my iTunes up REALLY LOUD in my office though. Scandal!

Posted by Carrieoke at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)

This past weekend, my band Bling the Children Back Home played two shows - one in Atlanta and one in Chattanooga. We had the pleasure of opening for Japanese comic punk band Peelander-Z. I don't even really know how to describe what happens when they perform, it's just TOTALLY AWESOME. There is a lot of rocking out, and audience participation, and signs, and hand motions and AMAZING costumes. When Peelander is in the house, the audience expects you to BRING IT. So, we tried.

Here's me and Joel (or Carrieoke and The Dark Side, if you like) in Atlanta.
Fun and comfortable diamond dress courtesy of my sister.

Me and Peelander-Pink. She is SO CUTE.
I have sweaty hair because we'd just finished our set.

Here's me and Jay backstage at Chattanooga, trying to look tough.

We had a great show both nights, and it was fun to go to a completely different city and play new venue. Chattanooga looks like a pretty cool town, although we were only there for a few hours. Rhythm and Brews brews their own beer that is delicious, and they gave us yummy pizza! fun times.

It's funny to compare my preparation for being on stage and the boys' preparation for being on stage. They all literally change clothes like two seconds before we go onstage -- I came to TN with a bag of outfits so I could have options, a curling iron, several pairs of shoes, lots of makeup, etc. Sometimes boys don't know how easy they have it....but that's a whole 'nother post.

I'll leave you with a ridiculous picture. It's not the most flattering picture of me ... but I have to post it. At one point in their show, Peelander-Z holds up these signs that say "Bassist Needed!" and "Drummer Needed" and they actually bring audience members UP ON STAGE and give them their instruments so the band can get on the floor and play some human bowling. I am not kidding. So guess who got to be the bassist in Chattanooga?

I can't believe I was actually making that face.
Like my Peelander wig?

Lots of yarn pictures to show you this weekend!

Posted by Carrieoke at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (22)

I have lots of pictures to show you from this weekend's Bling shenanigans...and there were shenanigans. But first, some long promised pictures!

I finally got the Pants to take some pictures of me in my Lace Leaf Pullover. I love this sweater! It's a little roomier than I thought it was going to be, but I like how comfortable it is, and I can wear it with jeans or to work with pants and it looks pretty good both ways.

Bella Schmoo likes it too.

Things I changed: I only did the lace leaf on the top of the sweater to avoid the grafting. (What can I say? I'm kind of a wimp about a big line of grafting in the middle of my sweater.) I also skipped the lace on the right sleeve (it's a yarnover lace motif down the middle of the sleeve, and it just wasn't working for me.) I also changed the collar a bit: instead of the longer ribbing and the button, I did about four rows of twisted rib in smaller needles and then bound off. The collar stands up just a little, and I really like the way it turned out. I seriously re-did the collar 7 or 8 times.

This is my serious pose.

I also had some trouble with the sleeve caps. My gauge was WAY off, so I had to do some major math, and my calculations didn't work out very well for the sleeves. I finally had to give up and say, well, even if they aren't perfect, they are wearable.

I think they're wearable.

I'll definitely wear this sweater a bunch, and it even looks cute with a collared shirt underneath. Love the yarn (Knit Picks Sierra) and LOVE the color. I don't have enough rich red in my wardrobe.

YAY knitting success! I'm finally making sweaters that I'll wear! Who knew? More postiness later this week with Bling pictures and fun times.

Posted by Carrieoke at 9:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (46)

I can't stop knitting my Must-Have cardigan. I'm in love with the pattern, and the squishiness of the yarn, and the COLOR. I love. And also, hi. It's 76 degrees outside! and I'm totally into this wool sweater. Nice timing.

Cables basking in the sun.
Me likey this spring sweater.

Yum. I've never really done cablework like this before, and I'm having a blast. I realize that my honeymoon period with cabling won't last forever, but right now, me and cables are SO IN LOVE.

Oh squishy diamond cables. And irish moss stitch. You're so cute.

Ahem. Sorry I got carried away there. My Must-Have is now TV knitting, and my Sockapaloooza sock is my travel knitting (it goes in the purse for car trips, waiting in line and other various instances of free time.)

Ribbing makes the Trekking look even nicer.

This weekend is a Bling The Children Back Home extravaganza. I've got a show in Atlanta on Saturday night and a show in Chattanooga TN on Sunday night. I just threw together a new website for Bling too -- it's over [ here ]. So plans for tonight include relaxing, knitting, and deciding what wigs to wear to the shows. Har. Any suggestions for restaurants in Chattanooga?

Have a great weekend!

Posted by Carrieoke at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (20)