100!

This is my 100th post. Seeing as I've had this blog for a couple years now, its a strong indicator of my lack of posting. Sorry about that. And of course, I've failed to plan anything for it.

So, I don't have any knitting to show, or even discuss really. I signed the papers for my condo the other day. I'm buying in a new development (sadly there's not a lot of information about it available online right now) and it should be ready for me to move in when I'm done with my stint overseas. Of course, its not finalized yet...

Anyway, just wanted to check in...

dummy party

I thought I should fill everyone in on the "Duct-tape Dummy" party at my house a couple of weeks ago. I had a few friends over from the Ottawa Knitting Group to make body doubles to help with the fitting of knitted items (or other sewing, in my case). Only Katrina and Leanne and I were wrapped, but Kit and Ginger also stopped by to knit for a while.


wrapping

Cutting

We learned from this experience that it really did take two sets of hands to effectively wrap and tape each person. It could be done with one person, but not as quickly or easily.

I went out on Saturday to the Great Glebe Garage Sale, and found a great faux 20's lamp that I've now restructured to work as a stand for my dummy. I now need to use cardboard to make a skeleton inside my dummy and stuff it so that it will maintain its shape. I'm also looking into some sort of spray hardener to see if I can give it even more support.

I have pictures of Leanne too, but I think I'll wait for her to post them herself.

Goals

So, I heard about this great contest over at the Knitting Maevan, and I just had to enter (it fits so well with my goals). So, here goes:

Knitting (and other crafting) Goals

• Finish the Gatsby Girl! (I've been working on it since September 2006, and I really love this sweater. Blatantly ignoring the fact that its long past the weather when a wool/cashmere blend sweater is appropriate.)


• Find patterns to knit for Sudan (Did I Mention I'm moving to Sudan this summer?)
  Project requirements include:
  • light-weight garments suitable to extremely hot weather,
  • natural fabrics that will breath well,
  • sleeves must reach elbows,
  • no low cut necklines, and
  • the body must be long enough to hit my hip. (NB: I can adjust some aspects of a pattern to meet these requirements, but I'm not willing to adjust lots - in that case I could just write a pattern, and that's more effort than I have available right now.


• Knit my Sockapalooza 4 socks (That's right, I didn't have enough going on with moving continents this summer, I thought adding a knitting deadline in there would be good. I haven't picked a yarn or a pattern yet, but I'll let you know when I do.


• Finish stuffing and building/finding a stand for my body double. I have high hopes of using her to show off my knitted items (in my living room) I can no longer wear due to extreme temperatures in Sudan


• Dig out the sewing machine and actually make some tops for myself. Its just as difficult to find summer tops that meet the above pattern requirements as it is to find knitting patterns - especially tops that don't then make me feel like I'm pregnant


• Knit at least one shrug/sweater that I will be able to wear in Sudan

Whew! So, that seems like a lot, especially with all the non-knitting things going on. However, even if I don't accomplish it all, it is good to set goals. I guess we'll see!

Edited to Add: I'm trying to make the Sockapalooza 4 button work on my sidebar. It's not there yet, but there's only so much I can do in a night.

Also: I have discovered the joy that is bloglines, after foolishly resisting for so long! A few annoying features (the 'mark all as read' function seems to operate randomly on me, which is almost never what I'm trying to do) but makes life soooo much easier!


And finally, a pretty picture for visual interest.

Green

P4180011
Originally uploaded by knitter_tara.

Well, it has been rainy for a few days, and I haven't been doing much knitting anyway, what with the moving and moving and buying a house and all that other life stuff. So, I thought I'd post a picture of this, my favourite new thing in Ottawa. At the new Bridgehead on Dalhousie north of St. Patrick, they have planted a living wall to help with air quality. All of the plants thrive in low light, and there is an automatic irrigation system that catches and reuses any runoff. I don't often have cause to go for coffee in that part of town, but I think its pretty cool.

First

P5100021
Originally uploaded by knitter_tara.

Look! I have a dummy!

wow

So, its been a while. Life has been busy (although, I know, everyone says that). And I haven't been knitting (much). I have been moving. And getting ready for a future big move. It takes a lot of work to move to Africa!

And, I'm working on buying a condo (maybe). There are so many things to think about. So, forgive me if I'm not very talkative.

I am having a party tomorrow! A "Duct-tape Dummy" party! I'm excited to have a dress mold to help fit my sewing (what little I do) and knitting.