Busy, Busy, Busy!

WiP: Mittens
Sewing: Box Bags
Finished: Lots!

Ummmmm...Hi! I've been super busy. Along with a vacation hubby-to-be and I took (I'll post photos soon) at the beginning of the month, I'm stocking up for a show in Edgemont on November 16! So there's been lots of knitting and sewing going on here - mostly me knitting and sewing like a mad woman. I think I might have scared Dallas a little bit!

I've included some highlights below, but trust me, it's not the only things that have been finished! I have a few more highlights to post over the next couple of weeks, but this is what I'll share with you for now. :)

Last night, I finished these mitts with the sparkly cuffs:

This past weekend, I finished these unlined drawstring bags:

I'll be introducing these crocheted, decorate-your-own-tiara kits at Edgemont:

And this was my world on Sunday:

Exciting News Parts 1, 2, & 3

WiP: Gemini by Jane Richmond (almost there!!!); Wedding #2 Log Cabin Blanket
HF: Slipper
Need to seam: six slippers

Exciting News Part 1!

I'm getting my fall shows lined up! So far:

November 16 - Edgemont Christmas Craft Fair, Edgemont Community Centre (9-3)

November 30 - Handmade Craft Parade, St. Michael School (10-3)

Tentative: December 6 - Mountain Made, Canmore, AB.

I think that'll keep me sufficiently busy for this holiday season, as I am going to be more regularly updating Etsy.

Exciting News Part 2!

I will be able to accept Visa & Mastercard at these markets, as I went and purchased a Square card reader. This means that I can now accept payments via these two large credit card companies.

Exiting News Part 3!

I'm going to be updating Etsy this weekend.

Watch this space, as well as Facebook/Twitter for the updates to come!

Have a lovely day, my dears!

Katie =^..^=

Day # 3

On the Needles: 4/6 boot cuff!
FOs: 1 more boot cuff

That's right! I'm down to the last three boot cuffs, and I'm already about a quarter of the way through this fourth one!! Yay!!

Got all the Christmas gifts wrapped yesterday. Now to just finish the super secret Christmas presents, which I will this coming week.

Today will be the fourth day that I will go to the gym. I'm just waiting for my tummy to settle after breakfast. I don't want to give myself stitches!

I also totally spoilt myself yesterday and bought myself some Dragonfly Dyewerx BFL (Blue Faced Leicester) fibre. I have two braids of it, for a total of 200 grams. Once I'm finished boot cuffs, I am going to spin some of this (that's the goal for today, anyway). The colour really, really, really reminds me of a kind of cherry blossom/black cherry sort of thing. I'll make sure to take progress pictures, don't worry. Also, Dragonfly Dyewerx is out of Drumheller, AB, Canada, so she's actually pretty local to me! I bought it at a local store called The Loop (in Kensington). They are wonderful ladies and terrible enablers. I wouldn't have gotten the two braids, but the lady said that the one had a twin...And I quickly fell down from there. hahaha I've told Dallas that if he ever wants to get me a "just because" gift, that's the place to go, because any of the colours that were there yesterday, I would LOVE to have in my possession. haha

Let's see...

I'm figuring out how to do DIY invitations for our wedding! It's so awesome that we have so long of time in between, because it's giving me a chance to plan out and also organize what I want to do. DIY invitations look like they're going to be awesome to do! And one of my bride's minions is going to draw a custom invitation for us, because she's awesome! And an amazing artist. In fact, you see some of her art every time that you come to this blog, for she drew my Etsy logo! You can find her here: Starlitdragon and bask in the glory that is her art.

Other than that, can't really do much right now anyway. Just relaxing over Christmas. And I'm going to look over more once Dallas is home so that we can decide together what we want for things. Because, once we decide what venue we will be at, we (I) can start making the decorations that I want! And yes, a lot of this will be handmade, because I want this event to reflect both of our tastes, and since it's fairly eclectic, it'll have to be handmade.

This all definitely leaning towards a strange mix of classical informatlity. I want semi-formal. But that will also be up for discussion with Dallas.

Anyway. If anyone gets tired of me talking about all of this, please let me know. I'm just super excited, and I want to share! Maybe I'll start warning you that the "wedding section" is coming up, and then you can scroll down to the end of "wedding section" if you don't want to read about it. I won't know the difference! haha

Oh yeah, and after this whole Christmas rush, spinning, etc. I have to get geared up for the Mommylicious show on January 20th in Calgary. Fingers crossed I can do it!

Anyway. Just a few more minutes and it'll be gym time. Hope all is well with you, my dears.

Take care!

Katie =^..^=

Day # 2

WIPs: Boot cuffs
FOs: None
Progress: some (almost done 1/3 pairs of cuffs)!

They say it takes about three weeks to establish and maintain a good habit. So here's to day # 2 of habit making!

I went to the gym last night, and again this morning, and I'm all pumped and ready to go tomorrow and Sunday, and then I have to start training with my trainer again.

And, although I was up at about 6am this morning (well, my alarm started then. I didn't get up until the still unholy hour of 6:30am), I am feeling quite energized...But at the same time like I will actually be able to go to bed tonight and get an amazing night's sleep. Yay! Means that I'll try to be up at the still unholy hour of a wonderful hour of 6ish. I need to be up earlier than I was today to hit the gym earlier on the weekdays (less people, more spare time for me getting to work).

The upside of  this is that the gym doesn't open until 8 on weekend, which means I can get up and make myself a nice, hot breakfast, and get some knitting done (i.e. the boot cuffs. haha)~!

This is also day #2 for my blog posts! Yay! By the way, the 50th post brought my views up over 1600 views! So happy about it.

Also, I found pineapple-flavoured Danone yogurt drinks...Actually surprisingly tasty! I hope it helps cultivate good bacteria in my body!

Let's see...

Finally got all the information from all of the venues that we've been looking at. I think it's helped narrow it down to two specific ones, which we'll go look at in January (I think).

I know that it may seem like a long ways out, but I do really want to do this now so that they don't get booked up before we even get a chance, and since we do have such a long time we get our pick, mostly.

Another benefit on knowing where we'll be is we can put the town on Save-the-Dates, which I want to get out soon so that my international friends that I'm inviting have time to save to come here. It also allows me to see the space and see how I can decorate, and what handmade items I want to make to decorate. :) (i.e. garlands of yarn pom-poms, anyone? hahaha)

I'm going to have so much fun with this~!

Dallas has this last trip up north and then he's home for Christmas, so we can sit down and talk more seriously about what we want to do, and budget around things. He was studying for an exam last week he was home, and so that wasn't conducive to talking about much else. (Fingers crossed he passes!) (He thinks that he's going to be going from stressing about exams to stressing about wedding details. I told him no. It's going to be a lot of fun planning! At least, that's how I'm going to look at it, and that seems to be half the battle. That and I think I have amazing bridesmaids (actually, a Minion of Honour and Bride's Minions, which is even better)!)

If you read Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's wonderful Yarn Harlot blog, you will notice that I am likely going to start emulating her a bit more (like, with struck-out text above). If you don't read her blog, go do it. Do it now!!!! She's fantastic. :) And Canadian (all the better).

Now, to go contemplate...things. Like knitting (one more row and bind off for the first pair)!

Have a lovely evening, my dears!

Katie =^..^=

Oh Tannenbaum...(Post 50!) And the Goal Post!

WiP: Boot cuffs
ItP: You know from the last post. haha
FOs: None

So, you know how I was saying I was getting busier?

Well, part of that was going out and getting a Christmas tree (which had to then thaw). And then I wrapped my parents' gifts, since we saw them yesterday. And I know we're heading to their place for Christmas...But you never know, what with the roads between, etc.

Anyway. We met for  dinner, and it was good. :) And then we went home and decorated the Christmas tree, which looks awesome!

Went to the gym tonight, which was good! One of my goals is to get fit.

This brings me to the goals that I want to achieve over the next year (and yes, I know, I know, New Year's, etc, but why can't goals start at any time of year? Like now? Better now than later)!

So, without further ado, here's my list of desired goals:

1. Get fit (fit enough that I drop some weight, but also that I can either reduce my medication or go off of it completely)
        1. a. Eat healthier (no more sugary drinks or cookies from Starbucks. I'm allowed cream in my coffee, though!)

2. Start writing here, if not every, every second day.

3. Start writing fiction again

4. Finish my wedding shawl in time for the 2013 Stampede Showcase

5. Have updates for my Etsy shop every two weeks (there won't be one this week, though, either...I'm slogged down in comissions)

6. Read a book a month, at least.

7. Have fun!

These goals will fluctuate, but I've just been thinking over it, and these are the top priorities.

Hence, you folks have to hold me accountable! I am going to post a picture of my knitting process each time I post (following this one), and hopefully that'll help.

In other news, still reading through YarnHarlot.ca's archives. They're awesome!

It's warmed up a lot in Calgary and helped dry up the roads, which is nice.

Dallas heads up North again today, which sucks, but at least when he's home next he's off for Christmas! (Last guaranteed one for who knows how long. haha)

Anyway, heading out. Have a lovely evening, my dears!

Katie =^..^=

Christmas Time Review!

On the needles: Custom "Untalkative Bunny" double knit scarf

Planning: mitten, hat, and scarf set, plus a kitten stuffy! :)

So, to start out December, my boyfriend and I went out with some of his friends to get a Christmas tree!

Yep, real tree. We were trying to decide between a real and a fake, but I would have missed the smell too much. And, as this article points out on Etsy, it's not as bad for the environment as everyone thinks: http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/noted-fake-fir-real-problems/

After Christmas tree hunting (and school was finished), I made yummy chewy ginger cookies!

Don't they look yummy? This is them in the bowl:








And the finished project! They stayed chewy for quite a few days. I was really happy with them!

My boyfriend was highly amused by this set of twisted yarns. He was very puzzled that that pile could turn out into this scarf: 

Yay, intarsia! How I love that I finally learnt you. I'm really happy with how this turned out, especially considering that it was a special order, and it was my first time working intarsia!

It's been a ridiculously busy Christmas break! Not only have a I been working on custom orders, I've also been doing that baking and working on my honours paper. But that parts almost done.

My boyfriend and I have also been watching InuYasha, which is just as good as the first time that I saw it!
Although I'm kind of disappointed that the final season hasn't been released yet. Oh well. Soon enough. It only ended about two years ago (when I was still in Japan, lucky me)!

I didn't end up getting to my casual reading list, but that's OK. I actually bought myself The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami when they were on sale at Coles. They're on my bookshelf waiting to be read now.

I did read most of the texts I was planning for my paper, though. There's really only one left that I need to read.

But my plan now is once I've graduated and got a couple pay cheques under my belt, I'm going to go buy a hammock and then start the stack of books waiting for me. This summer will mostly be spent reading and crafting. My "resolution" (if that's what it can be called) is to read and craft and get a good tan. haha

All right. This post has taken a really long time to write, so I'm going to leave it here and I'll write another soon! I promise. haha

Take care and Happy New Year!

Katie =^..^=

Busy, busy, busy...

On the needles: Armwarmers and custom order scarf
Designed: Untalkative Bunny Scarf
Waiting for: Yarn for projects

All right! Number one thing on the agenda today is...*drum roll*...I am a guest contributor on the blog "Art for Art"! You can find my post here: http://art-four-art.blogspot.com/2011/12/ian-tyson-old-cheyenne-katie-harris.html?showComment=1323186171331#c1725771085579273842 Please make sure to head over and give the blog some love. This is a wonderful project, and I want to be able to continue to share my work with others in a different space. Also, this blog gives me a more academic take on my projects, which is interesting. The project is likely to change, considering that I need to learn more about intarsia before I actually start. And I need to knit a gauge swatch to figure out how many stitches actually need to go into the design. haha The mittens don't have to be finished until around the beginning of June, so I at least have lots of time to work on them!

Quite a bit has been happening around my Etsy shop, too! I've had lots of views, and I've posted lots of items, although I am still lacking in sales. However, I was the "Etsians of Facebook's" Featured Seller last Saturday! http://www.etsy.com/teams/10355/etsians-of-facebook/discuss/9404784/ The topic's closed, but it's still really cool! I've posted lots of hair accessories the past few days, and I have some yarn garland decorations that will be posted sometime this next week. :) One last shop thing is that my legwarmers are currently 15% off with coupon RENEW15 Check them out here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/80110896/15-percent-discount-striped-corset

Classes end this Friday, which will be good. I won't get much of a break over Christmas, however, considering that I need to do lots of reading for my honours project and to fix up my master's application. What I really want to end up doing is getting all of my readings done and then to be able to get some more of my writing done...Approximately 25-30 pages out of the 40. I'm sitting at about 15 right now, which needs to be edited down, but I think that it's reasonable to get about 30 pages done by the end of Christmas break. I need to do this because I want the full week off in February, since my boyfriend and I are heading out to Victoria for a much needed vacation! I'm really excited for it, since it means I can go visit Beehive Wool Shop and bookstores!! And visiting with people I haven't seen since Japan! It's going to be a good trip.

Besides that, not much. I'm getting excited for Christmas, especially since my boyfriend and I are supposed to be going to get our tree this weekend! If it's nice weather, we'll go cut one, and if it's note, then we'll go buy one. However, the forecast is looking good.

Oh yeah, and the other part of Christmas break? I have a whole stack of books to read, and I'll be knitting lots!

On the Christmas reading wish list (starred (*) books are books for honours; this list will likely extend well into the following term, besides the honours books):

*Beauty by Robin McKinly
*Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley
*Beastly by Alex Flinn
*Beast by Donna Jo Napoli
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
The First Stampede of Florence LaDue by Wendy Bryden
*Fairy Tales and the Art of Subversion by Jack Zipes
Circus Nights by Angela Carter
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

And others. I'll add to this list as I go. Although I definitely need to finish Tigana, because it's a friend's book that I've had since about last February. haha

All in all, it needs to be a productive break. We'll spend Christmas around Calgary, and I have tickets to "Beauty and the Beast" at the Jubilee on December 27th! And then we'll head out to see my parents for a few days. :)

Hope everyone is well, and please make sure to go give the "Art for Art" blog some love!

Take care,

Katie =^..^=

Sneak a Peek at the Activity!

In Design: Scarves (yes, still)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86092397/shabby-chic-autumn-flower-barrette-brown - Listing for these barrettes!

So, these are what are going to be posted over the next few days. I particularly like the brown flower...And there's two of them! :)  And the headband (last picture) is actually part of a set of four. I figured this would be excellent as a set for a bridal party. They can be more customized if required.

Went home this weekend, since it was reading week. Then wrote three proposals today. At least these short blurb exercises are a good way to practice writing the longer works! And I've gotten really good at them now, since there has been so many this year already!

But at least I've had a breather before the end of the term. I'm still really looking forward to Christmas break, though!

Not much else happening right now. Just figured I would do a quick update and get back to school work and crafting. Or maybe go play some Bayonetta!

Take Care!

Katie =^..^=

Flynn Rider Vest

On the Needles: Advent Calendar
In Design: Scarves

That's right, folks! I made a Flynn Rider vest for Halloween (including under shirt) for my boyfriend~! Here's a picture of us two:

I also made the braid, but the dress is from my grad. :) 

And, of course, I had to almost beat him over the head with my frying pan! 

I am very happy with how this turned out.

Now, what's happening next? Well, I've got more Christmas ornaments to picture, and then I have lots of hair accessories made and just calling my name for me to take pictures, which I'm hoping to do this afternoon! :)

It's started snowing here, which sucks, because now it's cold an there's ice. But at least it isn't a bad as out East...And it gives me an excuse to curl up inside with a blanket and hot chocolate and read without feeling guilty! 

Over two months through the semester, and there's a reading break next week, which I'm really excited for, because it means that I can go home and see my cat and parents and soak in the hot springs! (Whoot!) Well, and work on conference proposals for the 15th...And doing readings. And edit my honours paper for a WIP talk, and get a proposal together for a paper, and...Yeah, my school work doesn't end this semester. And it won't even over Christmas break. Although I will be able to sleep in at that point! And go see "Beauty and the Beast" as the Jubilee Auditorium! (So excited for that!)

I am in the midst of a book for my honours paper right now, but it's taking me forever to read, since it's something I've taking intensive notes from. And, for my children's literature class, right now we're reading Nation by Terry Pratchett! And finally! Someone spoke up in class about the whole "traditional female roles" and said that she felt like they were being devalued all the time. And it wasn't just when women took on those roles, but men, too. Any of the nurturing roles in either sex. I was so glad that someone finally spoke up (and that it wasn't me, because the other girl was much more articulate. If you don't believe me, read the previous blog post where I ranted.)

One good thing about November is that in about a month, we can go get a tree and set it up! I can't wait for it. hehe

All right, it's almost class time, and I need to do some more reading. But have a good day, take care on the roads wherever you are, and keep an eye on the Etsy shop to see new items posted soon! :)

Katie =^..^=

Update!

On the Needles: Mittens
In the Design process: Scarf and Advent Calendar

So, lots has been happening! Including, a start up of a new subsection in my shop: Christmas decorations! http://www.etsy.com/shop/NekozukiYarns?section_id=10546630

There's going to be lots more to come, too, like a knitted advent calendar, and more painted ornaments, which I'm working on a bit today.

I've rewritten the ten pages for my honours proposal, which is exciting. And now I'm working on my application for my Master's and for funding for said program. Which is exciting and terrifying.

Other than that, been keeping busy with reading. And my boyfriend, one of his friends, and I finally made it to the Upper Falls in Johnston Canyon! Success. Unfortunately, my camera was too cold to take pictures. Oh well. I'm sure we'll be there again.

And now, time to actually do some reading!

Take Care,

Katie

Four Months Until Christmas~!

On the Needles: Newborn Hat

That's right folks! Four months until Christmas, which is unbelievable.

I'm really excited about this Christmas, since my boyfriend and I will be able to decorate the apartment, and have a tree!

With those thoughts in mind, I also turn towards what I'm going to make or buy for gifts. Last year, I made a Queen-sized blanket for my boyfriend and a pair of mittens for his sister (who I drew for a name in the present exchange).

However, with my new perspective on Etsy, I think that a few of my gifts may well be purchased off of there, too. What could be better than being able to shop handmade goods online? And I may not have made it, but somebody somewhere has. A lot better than having to fight crowds at the mall, and most of the items on Etsy are unique and one of a kind in some way. Hey, including mine!

Anyway, even if you don't celebrate Christmas, the other holidays are around then, and they are all fast approaching! It's unbelievable that there is really only four months and few days left in 2011, even.

So those are my ruminations for today.

By the way, there will be a couple new postings, hopefully by the end of this weekend, for mittens! Ridiculously cute little kid mittens at that! Keep your eyes peeled.

Katie =^..^=