i’ll be in soon with an update of my knitting over the past couple months.  after all, this is supposed to be a knitting blog…

but for now, let me point you the way of my buddy vinnie (via karen’s blog).

here’s vinnie:

see, vinnie came to stay with karen from the same rescue group where we got finnigan…

he was staying with her family on a foster basis and fell pretty ill for a week.  it was a rough week on all, but the diagnosis has been made and they’re doing their best to get him back to 100% and he’s well on his way.  unfortunately, all that takes some dollars!  the rescue program took care of the vet costs, and they get a deal for all the good they do, but the bill was still high.

karen put out a plea to all the knitters and dog lovers she knew and blew right past her first and her second goals…  now she’s helping another specific dog (an amazing and strong pup who’s recovering from an up close and personal meeting with a large vehicle - no use of his hind legs, but he still gets around all on his own - there’s video at karen’s blog!!) and the program itself.

there’s more!  she’s doing this money raising in the form of a raffle.  for some really really great knitterly goods!!  if you’re a knitter get over there and drop $5 for a ticket.  there’s wollmeise!  there’s piddly bags from piddleloop!  there’s yarntini!  there’s yarn pirate!  there’s jelby stitch markers!  there’s a yarn haven project bag!  she’s even doing an extra ticket if you drop $20 (so instead of 4 $5 tickets you’d get 5 chances!!).  if you’re not a knitter, but you love doggies (and who wouldn’t love vinnie’s face - he looks like will ferrell for goodness sake!) donate and if you win you can give the goods back to karen, or to me for my upcoming birthday!! 

so here’s the catch…  i’m a slacker and the raffle closes at midnight tomorrow night.  so go, now, and donate through the link at karen’s page, your donation goes straight to the organization and then you forward your confirmation email that says you made a donation to karen.  that’s how you get your “tickets”, so don’t skip that last step!

good luck!  and thanks, from vinnie and finnie and all the crew.

i’ll seriously be back later this week with lots of knitting pics and content.  *pinky swear!*

the yarn harlot says ‘hi.’

Originally uploaded by noppstar

she was on time and didn’t have to hitch a ride from a stranger!

surprise surprise

Originally uploaded by noppstar

look! john amato is not blogging!

oh boy…

Originally uploaded by noppstar

cousin john says these dice are more dangerous than jumanji… we got the dog, we love him so. vids and pics forthcoming.

so here’s some fun things to share…

tonight i finished up my first pair of socks knit two at a time.  like both of them on one circular needle - row for row.  the joy of finishing them both at once and being able to slip the pair on my feet is pretty damn fun.  i’ll certainly get more use out of this book/technique (2 at a time socks, melissa morgan-oakes).  they’re more gorgeous than a late night photo with flash will let you believe, but trust me.  *happy sigh*

also, i didn’t feel like they were really going that quickly, but these were finished in 11 days.  seriously.  yum.  the yarn is keegan lane yarns en pointe sock in northern lights.  drool.  worthy.  the pattern was “emily’s socks” in the book mentioned above.  written for children, but i just threw in some extra stitches around and followed the pattern with my prior knowledge of sock construction leading the way.    i.love.them.so.

speaking of things i love so…

this guy?

so, his name is finnigan and chances are very good that he’ll be ours in the near future.  we’re dog readying the house and i can’t freaking wait.  i’m so pre-occupied with pupper thoughts that it’s all i could dream about, last night.  heh.  *raises hand*  yes, i’m a big dork!  he’s 2 years old and a mixture i like to refer to as: schnorkie!  (that’s yorkie terrier and schnauzer bits)

in other news since i posted last, zoey-zoe has a new sweater:

brenda finally got some socks:

and my downstream secret pal, vanessa, in the loopy ewe swap got some fingerless mitts that i wanted to keep for myself!

that’s all for knitting news.  i’ll try to keep up better, keyword being “try.” 

oodles of knitting has been done.

chair massage enjoyed.

lots of laughs and all the “girl talk” a girl could need.

it’s like tuesday night insanknitty with more time and space.

we miss those who couldn’t make it, but you can bet your sweet bippies that we’ll be doing this again.

here’s some pretty pictures:

one of my favorites is this one of patti, patti:

don’t you just want to hug her?!?!?!  i did right after i took this picture and then squealed at how cute she is.

here’s one of my fun blingy hannukah joy - handspun by jacki, separated into two fairly equal balls so that i can go toe up for as long as the yarn will cooperate.  along with a pretty valentine-y piddly and the start of a zoey sweater. 

and my socks i finished last night (these are our february sock club socks form the Yarn Haven Sock Club.  we’re lining up indie dyers for each month to supply us with colorways inspired by local connections…  this is Chewy Spaghetti Khris’s “Pickled” inspired by Tony Packo’s Pickles and Peppers that i sent her for “research”!!  i think the Thuja pattern - adjusted for sport weight - from Knitty, worked out perfectly, as the seed stitch columns are reminiscent of the bumps you find on pickles, don’t you think?!?  hee!  i’m such a dork.)

p.s.  shawna, i’m collecting weird things about me this weekend and i will post 7 all in one post soon! 

karen, the lovely, organized a big fat knitting retreat for a bunch of ladies in the area (it wasn’t women-only, it’s just that only women signed up).  there’s almost 40 of us that will be chillin’ at the retreat center, knitting it up.  can you tell i’ve made myself at home??  and see that orange/green/cream colored ball in the front left of the pic?!?  i kool-aid dyed it last january and brought it to play with, along with those sparkly crochet hooks in the tube just to the right of it.  eric let me steal the computer to stay connected and i’ll be updating flickr and maybe the blog, too, some more this weekend. 

couple of suckers

Originally uploaded by noppstar

go visit john amato at www.juplife.com and tell him i will eventually finish his scarf. and just you guys wait ’til you get to hear the story of yarn yarn!

so yesterday, baby zoey and i hung out for a bit of niece/aunt-bonding.

then my sister arrived and announced that zoey had grown out of all winter hats and i don’t know if you know this, but we were having quite the freeze out in nw ohio, this weekend…

you’re darn right i did what any good knitter would do…

is that pic pure pixie or what?!?!

it was even knitting from stash!!  and she likes it, that nuk doesn’t hide her grin:

and you can see she gets that pretty face from gramma buddy back there… 

♥

i heart the spark-luh!

Originally uploaded by noppstar

yay for days with more ups than downs and instant gratification sparkliness!