Home again, home again

I made it back. I hiked 18.3 miles. I drove over 1500 miles. I bought home made maple syrup. Hiked to the highest point in Minnesota. Had Sven & Ole's pizza. Watched a friend attempt to eat a flapjacks bigger than her head. Hot dogs, doritos, and Leinenkeugels by the campfire. New hiking shoes. Lake Superior. Perfect weather. Maple trees. And I didn't get eaten by any bears. Overall it was a good trip, tiring but good. The autumn colors are beautiful in late September along the north shore in Minnesota. When I drive down the Gunflint trail every fall it seems like not a day has passed since I was last there. Things up there are calm. No need to rush. Nearly every car carries a canoe. Oh, it is glorious, simply wonderful and how I can't wait to go back.

counting down

I have begun counting down the hours until the long drive north. The drive never seems as long, different scenery. I am getting really excited, crisp minnesota air, indefinite fall colors, new hiking shoes, sweatshirts and flip flops by the fire. Oh, I can't wait!
A word of disappointment: I still have not received any, I repeat ANY cds from the dual disc exchange. Come on people, don't let me down!

weekend trip

Pure Dork
26 % Nerd, 21% Geek, 52% Dork
THE NERD? GEEK? OR DORK? TEST

Your 80s Heartthrob Is

Kirk Cameron

Who's Your 80's Heartthrob?

This coming saturday through tuesday I will be surrounded by this as I hike the Superior Hiking Trail and camp along the shore of Lake Superior.

links-a-lot

First off just want to thank my secret pal for the glorious SNB book to add to my collection! Seems like such a staple for every knitter. Oh and by the way SP my boyfriend swipped the invoice envelope so that I couldn't sneak a peek at your name/location. I made him do it because I can't stand secrets, even if it involves presents for me! So thank you so much SP!!!!
And speaking of secret pals have you seen the gynormous list of participants!?! It is going to take me forever to get through them to see what other people are up to! There are some seriously talented knitters! I can't believe some of the projects that are out there. Maybe I can figure out how to felt from one of them.
Tonight is knitting night and I am taking a teporary break from mr. birdie to work on some face cloths. The girls and I will be making a batch of cloths to be sent off to hurricane katrina evacuees. Check out Cloths for Katrina for more info.
Today be talk like a pirate day. Try this out.
Got the long awaited calligraphy piece finished yesterday. I waited 3 months for it to actually only take me 1 day. There are a few things I will add but all the lettering is done. I can't believe I put it off this long! Maybe I will post a picture later.

Can the afternoon go any slower? My officemates are gone today so it is just me and my boss. The nice thing about this is that I can listen to my music louder than normal. I have been alternating between listening to the mixes that I made for the dual disc exchange and the SomaFM indie station. No officemates means surfing the net more than usual though I am starting to feel like I have looked up everything possible, though I did remember that I hadn't checked out the Paper Source's site in awhile and man, I could spend so much money there! I love it! I sometimes think about that the job that I could have had with them (even though I didn't actually apply). I full time bookbinder! How cool would that have been?! But being the nice girl that I am I couldn't leave my loving boyfriend. He loves his job and truth is we both have nice jobs here in Iowa but getting that job would fulfill two of my biggest dreams: to live in a city and to be a full time bookbinder. The things I do for love.
Tonight is pizza night and we are actually going to sit down to watch a movie together (that is if I don't fall asleep). I am also going to hang some baskets tonight (they hang from a rod) in my studio and either tonight or tomorrow I will put artwork on my walls!!!! This weekend I have to be a mad calligrapher too. I have been "working" on a project for this woman for 3 1/2 months now. I just need to get it in gear to get it done. I am hoping to have it finished by next weekend when I go up north hiking.
Busy weekend for me but I just got an email that I got a package in the mail so I am going to sneak out of here early to find out what it is!!!!!

twice in one day!

Yes it's true, I am posting twice in one day. Just a short one though letting you know that today I discovered two great websites! Knitpicks and my favorite...knit pixie! Such cute fun yarn! Not your typical Hobby Lobby yarn.

oh my eyes

I think this new job is really taking a toll on my precious eyes. Perfect vision is going down the drain real fast. I sit at a computer all day long. My eyes burn. I am going to need glasses before too long. And my back, I am going to become hunch backed!

it has finally come!

It is true. I turned on my computer this morning and what do ya know I have a secret pal! And she has already sent me surprise #1! Man, she is good and boy do I love being spoiled with fun mail! My cds for the dual disc exchange are done, just have to finish the covers.
My latest project that I am working on is a little knitted birdie. He is bright blue and lots of fun (though not really digging the small needles). I found him in this book which is super fun!

Secret Pal 6

Hello all secret pal friends! Well here it is:


1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you? I am not a snob and it is not all the same. I do use my fair share of RH and LB.

2. Do you spin? Crochet? I don't spin but I do het crochet

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.) no allergies but don't like the smell of smoke

4. How long have you been knitting? I am a bit new, only have been knitting for about a year.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? right here.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) I love lilac!!! I also like fruity flavors, berries, clean smells (think clean clothes). No cucumber melon!

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? I answer this as I pop tootsie rolls and laffy taffys in my mouth.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I do quite a lot of hand bookbinding and calligraphy. I make wedding guestbooks and journals. I have done my fair share of soap and candle making.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I like almost anything. Depends on my mood. Yes to MP3s.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? I like earth tones, browns and greens especially. I am also a pink kind of gal.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I have been living with my boyfriend since June. We have no pets though I have been pestering him for a cat.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know) I would love to work from home doing bookbinding. I also would like to work on my cooking and become a traveler like my grandparents.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? It depends what I am working on. I absolutely love the yarns at Hello yarn

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? That icky eyelash stuff.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? I found a book that has a few cute animals in it. Nothing hard. I would love to learn how to felt.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I am on an animal kick

17. What are you knitting right now? a little birdie

18. What do you think about ponchos? we have a love/hate relationship. I made one last winter b/c I was told it was easy. They only look good on certain people which is why I only wear mine around the house (though I think it is currently in my car trunk)

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? either, depends on the project.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? all.

21. Are you a sock knitter? nope. scares me.

22. How did you learn to knit? internet and the book Knitting Pretty. Then studied briefly under Master Knitter Amy.

23. How old is your oldest UFO? about 6 months

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? don't know if this counts but I enjoy this (the 2004 stuff) and this

25. What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving, I love cooking the big meal for my family.

26. Is there anything that you collect? The question should be is there anything you don't collect. Being an artist it is hard for me to get rid of stuff. I have tons of different papers.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? none.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on? I don't have either Stitch n Bitch books. Anything about bookbinding especially those by Keith Smith

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another?? Anything easy. Fun animals and purses/bags

to do

A new blog for me. The old one had to go.
It is always hard to get going again after a 3 day weekend. This weekend was packed with tons of shopping. Spent the weekend with 2 of my closest friends, one who will be moving to London next week.
First 5 things on my to do list:
- Walmart
- Dishes
- Laundry
- Calligraphy
- work on recipe exchange*

*if anyone wants to participate in a recipe exchange leave a comment with your email and I will send you info, deadline is September 10.

#1

A refreshing new blog.