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Tuesday, September 27, 2005
From the other side of the globe
Look at what just came in the mail last week!
Zira had the honour of checking it out:- it's a lovely crane RAOK from Julie of http://stoneview.typepad.com! Isn't Julie wonderful to think of us international RAOKers?
Notice that little tear corner? I suspect some postman must have been trying to figure out what's in the contents! LOLNot only that, see the envelope? It's a page from Knitpicks catalog! It almost killed me because Knitpicks don't ship internationally. I was drooling as I kept flipping & rotating the envelope in all angles to get a closer look at all the lovely shades! I even resorted to using a cutter to get the envelope to unfold properly to check out the inner page as well :)
Julie, now you do know that your RAOK presented double glees to me.
Ruth is in town!To top it off, I had a great start to this week, made better by Ruth's arrival. Both her hubby and her are in the region visiting some relatives and we caught up for a quick lunch. Shame that both of us forgot that we brought our cameras and didn't get to take any photos! Believe me when we said the meetup was good as she went about with pattern book enablement (I am great at facilitating purchases! LOL) but those references & pattern books are in Japanese which is really difficult to come by in the US -- those are the reasons why we all shop when we are overseas right?
PS. Thanks for those great comments on the baby booties! The mom loves it so much and so do many of the guests who woo-ahhed over them. In fact, I thought those yarns worked out so nicely in crochet (yes, I even used them for the commissioned projects) that I went ahead and ordered some more colors! LOL!
Friday, September 23, 2005
Baby KAL update
First off, let's welcome Jenn!In the completions dept, we have Jeanne who has a gorgeous baby blankie to boot and is already onto project #2! And Penny have more of those cute hats to show! Christina is already planning for her new baby project (this gal just keeps churning out impressive baby items!) and she is torn between choices. Go over and let her know which one you'll choose!And I just whipped up a pair of crocheted Mary Jane baby booties for my friend's baby shower this coming Sunday. It was a quick crochet project with instant gratification (yeah, need that lately!) and was done within a couple of hours. The colors are so bright and chirpy; amazingly it's 100% cotton! I think these cotton crochet booties should wear well in our humid Singapore weather. The yarn's part of the line that I am carrying. [Dangerous road I am treading on, eh?]
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Zira sees the old & new of Singapore
As part of Zira's world tour, she's decided to find out more about Singapore.Here she is, having a view out of our unit. Most Singaporeans stay in HDB housing estates or flats as we normally refer to them.Then last night, we made a trip to an idyllic place for dinner...[yes, Singapore's all about food!]
This place is tucked in a quaint corner of Singapore. It's actually nestled amongst the landed properties. They serve huge portions of Texan cuisine...the onion rings are yum!
And check out the provision shop next to it!
These are the ones that we've grown up with during the 70s to late 80s. They sell a whole array of household items like detergent, soap, brooms to necessities like rice, condiments and also stuff drinks and snacks. The shop lady had to come out and look at what I was doing! LOL
Oh, and see this?
They're called bottle trees. Originally from Australia, we heard that the owners uprooted and transported these trees to Singapore at a cost of S$30 grand each! Wow!
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Flippin'
See the state of my Clappy?
 I've used 5 balls of 50g yarn and this is what I've gotten so far. Not long enough to wrap around my arms and go over the back the way I like. So I am just gonna add more repeats to it! Ack!
And my SP5 pal is (drumroll please!) Who has been incredibly sweet, nice and thoughtful. And she reads my blog to attempt to find out what my likes and dislikes are. Where do you find another gal like her?! So here's a virtual rose to you, Julia!
Monday, September 19, 2005
Small things...simple pleasures
GT & I went to dinner with Zira. When Zira turned to the very first page, she was amused and insisted that I show all of you:
Click on the photo for a close up look of what it says.... GT almost died for he is one that can't go without chilli if he can help it. I mean, he literally heaps chilli sauce onto everything he eats (like white rice, yes, he does that!) , except for desserts! But the food was so good - I'll spare you all of the food photos lest your drool get onto your keyboards. [grin] Too bad this restaurant is closing in November.
Apart from that we worked up some quick crochet gifts for a little girl this weekend.
A crocheted rose brooch - once I got it figured it, it's so easy! I can't believe the transition I undergone for the past few years -- from being totally dependent on a step by step instruction guide to having to look at finished items and deciphering the pattern stitches! Of course, that just means that the frogpond is my regular hangout since I keep ripping back and redoing to perfect my trial pieces before I achieve something I like.Took me less than an hour to get one done. I could forsee myself getting lots of these done as quick gifts!
And little girls like to keep things right? I just designed and worked this little pouch up in a single piece so no seaming is involved, except for putting that tiny button on for closure...and my label which is at the back. I really need to get back to my store sample and get my hands all blued up tomorrow!
Saturday, September 17, 2005
A international guest in town!
Guess who that is? Zira!
She's just arrived from her Israel trip. Despite being all tired out, she's decided to check out my knitting stash. And with yarn being so comfy, Zira decides to lounge on them!
Well, she's checking out my yarns that are lined up for the knitting & crochet classes. Yup, those are stashed right at my home where my students, customers & I can have immediate access to them. The rest, I'm having them delivered as when needed. (Can't store too much since my personal stash is already occupying 8 chubbies!)
Then Zira decides to check out my spinning wheel.
Ok, so the wheel's not real. Zira is still upbeat & tells me that I'll get to own a spinning wheel one day if I set my mind to it. Ha! Wait till I learn to spin properly...
Friday, September 16, 2005
Baby KAL update
Jeanne has just started her baby blanket which is in a lovely shade of green while Penny has a cute hat & scarf set in bright colors!
I'm hoping that I could get my baby project pieced together by next week! All that's left are the bands & the collar! Yay!
PS. I am seriously in awe & respect for many of the designers out there. Having attempted being a test knitter, I now do realize the amount of careful planning, and calculations that go into each piece. More so when there's a call for symmetry and finer details to please any sophisticated knitter.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Blue
Metaphorically
Just mentally exhausted lately. Bogged down by too many things in mind.
Literally....
See my thumb & fingers?
Everyone loves denim, don't they? I was working on a store sample using the Blue Jeans denim yarn that I carry. I mean, how else could anyone imagine its final result? As usual, the dark navy yarn just decides to hug my fingers. Here's what I initially created: 
A pile of feminine, flowery crochet mess Not quite suitable, you think? That's what I thought so this pile is gone by the time you read this:- heading straight to the frog pond. The good thing thought is that I've developed another pattern. So far, the work in progress is getting some wooing and aahing from at least 3 people who've seen it - I know, it's their plan to try & cajole me to gift it to them but I'm not budging this time. (Maybe not so soon, I mean, for goodness' sake; it's a store sample! It'll be lounging in my apartment or slugging over my shoulders for some time to come.) Other than that, this week has been great...I've even managed a shot at teaching a kid knitting! PS. Ok, so I do wish I can have a physical store....but in the meantime, just think virtual or home-based business.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Seaming along
The pattern testing is going on well, despite some frogging. Here's how the sleeves line up. Love how the stripes go together!
(No blocking done yet; I intend to do it when it's all put together.) I have also completed the pants. This set should be really cute when it's all done.
I'll make sure I get good photos when I am done.
On the other hand, I've just launched the CLICKETY CLICK program - a scheme which I believe will truly reward those who have been giving us support and business since our launch.
As you can tell, I am hoping that I could stay at home and work on this business full-time!
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Baby KAL update
Welcome to Penny who's just joined us.
Lu completed a quickie baby sweater that's just so gorgeous! Go check it out! Aunt Hayley has a great FO to show too! Jennifer has her twins do some modelling - check out those hats and the ponchette! Lynnette has the matinee sweater done and is going to work on a matching hat for the set.
If you have a moment, go over to Elspeth & Manda and cheer them on - I know working on a baby blanket and getting it to completion is quite a challenge. Jeanne is also thinking of starting on a baby blankie too!
Janette is so generous to provide her free pumpkin hat pattern.
Seems like many KALers are on their way to completing a baby project, one way or another! Woo hoo!
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Oh baby
There's no Baby C/KAL update this week as it seems that everyone's busy working on new projects or in the midst of completing others.
Here's the super secret baby project - a pattern I am testing for Figheadh.
Look at all the ends!
Bring on the Baileys Hot Milk! I need that to soothe my nerves when I get to the seaming. You all know I'll get there, huh?
All is looking well; apart from a minor mishap at home that is yet resolved. Let's hope this project will be finished this coming week! Or another FO.
PS. I wonder if anyone actually knitted the Zigzaging Shanghai Scarf (click on the words)? I'd love to see pictures!
PPS. For those who are not adverse to a little alcohol, pour a shot of Bailey's Cream into a mug of steamed milk. (Just make sure the milk is not too hot else a layer of *skin* will form.) It's delicious! And a real comforter in winter. If you try it, let me know what you think of it ok?
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