AfricanKelli

Have you seen Prime yet? Uma Thurman really is that gorgeous. And is quite funny to boot. I recommend seeing it with a girlfriend.

Ms. Thurman sports several beautifully knitted scarves during the film, which she may just have knit herself. They are essentially all the same pattern — at least at quick glance. If I were to guess, they were each 6-7 feet long and 3 inches wide. Easy enough with the right yarn. I was particularly fond of the soft purple one with the series of pompoms on the bottom. So pretty!
I may just have to try this one out for myself. My guess, if anyone is interested would be the following for the pattern:

Uma Scarf:

Needle — size 8-10 (bamboo of course)

Yarn — Worsted weight, 300 yards.

Cast on 12

Row 1: knit

Row 2: purl

Work in stockinette stitch for 6-7 feet, or when boredom takes over.

Cast off

Add a handful of pompoms to each end with a tapestry needle, wrap the scarf around your neck and voila! You may just find a new jiggle to your step that screams your movie star style!

~K

The October theme for Tie One On was mixed media. Essentially you had to do something to the apron that didn’t involve sewing, such as screen printing, stamping, etc.

It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do, but this apron came in handy as a Halloween costume too.

I’m starting a new tradition ’round here — October’s crafting en sum can be seen here. November’s may have to be a bit more hidden with the holidays approaching. I’ll have to figure that one out when the time arrives.

Cheers,

Kelli

My brother and I helped our parents pack and load the moving van this weekend. It was a much more tearful event for me than it was for him. I heard many “Why are you so emotional?” and “Jesus! There is no crying in moving!” from his side of the boxes.

It was and is very sad for me. I’m lucky to have a family that I respect and enjoy spending time with. I worked out twice a week with my dad, would work with my mom (aka The Great Quilter) on sewing and knitting regularly, and we made a tradition of Sunday night dinners, followed by board games or the Sopranos. I think it is okay to be sad that this routine is changing, that they’ve moved to another state and that I won’t be able to see them as often. And as tough as my brother is playing it, I know he is relieved to be headed to their new house after graduation in just a few months. Neither of us does well without the regular support, and hugs for that matter, from our parents.

At some point during this weekend’s activities, my brother opened the trunk of his car and I was quickly able to snap this photo.

Notice, for a boy who’s been in college pushing five years, that the space is void of books, school supplies, any trace of academia. Instead, it seems that he has robbed the local Sports Authority. Snowboard boots, a new Speedo and towel, raquets, climbing shoes. Ay!

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the posterboy for”the youngest child syndrome.”

Good luck to my parents, with their new home and career. I am rooting for you as always.

~K

… and perhaps in the kitchen.

*

Wrapped and ready to go for the costumed wedding this afternoon.

~K

*Thanks again to my roommate (well, former roommate as of today) for her fine modeling skills

I’ve been sewing and knitting and baking to my heart’s content this week. If you’d like an easy and delicious pumpkin spice cake recipe, check out The Cake Mix Doctor. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. This woman knows her cakes. They are simply delicious.

I’m attending a Halloween-themed wedding this weekend, where everyone was requested to either wear a costume or all black. My date is going as Venus, Goddess of Love. I am going as a Domestic Goddess. I’m going to make my best attempt to channel Ms. Lawson.

And a good friend is about to have her first baby! We are so excited for her daughter to arrive next week.

Here she is in September, happy, smiley, and excited.

And here she is just a few days ago. I think for being incredibly tired, she still looks cheerful. Perhaps it is a look of joy knowing the kid’s lease is nearly up.

Here’s to hoping for a mainstream supreme court judicial nominee,

Kelli

BackTack received! The super secret partner I made that giant nappy bag for was none other than Ms. Misocrafty. And sure enough, the girl started her Backtack project, um today. And it rocks. Check it out here: www.misocrafty.squarespace.com

The little things are piling up and rather than tackling them, I keep sitting down at my sewing machine or picking up my knitting. This week, I’ve got to get caught up. There’s that bumper sticker that’s been de
teriorating on the back of my car for months. And the footprints from filthy feet that need to be scrubbed out of the tub. The garden needs watering. I haven’t purchased groceries in weeks. The ironing pile is starting to gather dust. There are those corrections to my book that are begging to be made and yet, I just can’t seem to drag myself to do them. Ay!

And really, who wants to be ironing or watering when you could be drinking and knitting?

Thankfully, I’ve got some motivation tucked in my pocket. The roommates (and my parents) are making their mass exodus this weekend, leaving me with my very own studio/guestroom • and a touch of loneliness I’d predict. I’ve got big plans and a small budget, so the room surely will transform in steps. First up, getting my sewing desk out of my bedroom. Next, taking my hall closet back for coats and moving my stamping, fabric and paper stash to the studio shelves. Third, new furniture.

The futon, (I did mention the small budget) is being delivered today. Thanks again Shay! I will no longer sleep on the couch when entertaining house guests. Yay! The new bookshelves are up for debate. The room is small and just like the rest of the place, I’ve got make the most of the space. I’m thinking about these, but will more than likely get these instead. Check out Jenny’s studio. I’m coveting the windows and light.  

After the bookshelves, I’m dreaming of crown molding, new paint, new carpet or maybe a splurge on a treated concrete floor…

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

On a different note, I continue to be spoiled by friends. These arrived yesterday. After wandering a knitting store with Mini, we found and fell in love with knitting bags very similar to this. A month later, she’s making her own without problem. It is perfect and is happily already in use. So is the new jewelry box from Bunny. Thanks ladies!

I’m off to make corrections and a giant “To Do” list…

~Kelli

Blog.com is acting silly again, throwing in question marks here and there and being a complete and total pain when it comes to posting photos. Thankfully, a friend has been working on a new site. I’ve got my fingers crossed this nonsense will continue only a few months more.

In the meantime, a collage of recent happenings:

Birthday books, including a new Singer sewing machine manual — a gift to myself.

Celebrating cooler weather and currently loving all things orange.

The next nappy in progress.

Tonight my knitting circle is meeting at a bar for our weekly get together. Ha! If I think I drop stitches normally, just wait until my friend Pinot gets involved. It’s a good thing I’m going too; I thought I could adapt the One Skein Wonder pattern by adding a few stitches here and a few stitches there. I’m pretty sure I thought wrong. Again, I should just stick to the pattern.

This weekend a girlfriend suggested I start my own craft magazine, with an emphasis on doing projects on a small budget. She said it would combine two of my greatest pleasures — writing and domestic arts. (Really, it’s three of my pleasures because there is a certain joy to finding a great deal on fabric, thread, yarn.) She’s got a point. I’m not sure that I’m interested in taking the risk at the moment, but I’m tossing around the idea of starting such a blog. What do you think? Interested in such an idea?

~AK

My birthday weekend started off on the right foot by my dad delivering a dozen of my mom’s homemade chocolate cupcakes and a bouquet of daisies to my work place. I had a cupcake half crammed down my throat when I threw my arms around him in thanks. Yum!

Bouie, aka: Boo, Head, Ditka, Rashy, the artist formerly known as FG, etc, had a special weekend planned, including last-minute surprise guests. Our friends the Slackmans (who I seem to photograph and blog about a ton when looking at my Flickr account) drove over in Ms. Bumble for a weekend of fun.

In just 48-hours, we ate at Cantina Laredo (best margaritas in town), Pasta Brioni (hottest wait staff, er, best bruchetta in town), the News Cafe (yummy breakfast) and My Florist Cafe (great food with wonderful music in the evenings). Oy. Lots of eating. We got off the couch occasionally to shop, play Trivial Pursuit and see Pride and Prejudice at the Herberger. While the play was 3-hours long, and I wasn’t familiar with the story (e-gads), it was thoroughly enjoyable.

There were many laughs, thoughtful touches and birthday wishes crammed in one short period of time and I am very thankful. Of course, there was also the loot. My parents lavished me with new knitting and cook books including Ms. Nigella Lawson’s latest. There are rumors of a much-wanted jewelry box arriving soon from my friend Bunny. And Tif strung me a beautiful pearl, silver and crystal necklace that I can’t seem to take off.

And then there is Fin, who knit me the softest, sweetest gloves because she knows I freeze at my desk. I can say quite honestly this is the only cashmere I own and it’s lovely.

Wicked too!

My glove review:

I appreciate those who thought of me. Thanks again!

26 is already rockin’,

Kelli

I had a doctor’s appointment earlier this week during which the physician explained to me that my symptoms were due to “hormonal changes that typically occur in women in their late-20s.”

Late 20s? As of today, I am officially no longer in the “early 20s,” and while I’d like to moan and groan about how I hate getting older, I am quite happy to wave 25 goodbye. The last year has been rocky at best in many regards. With a break up came depression, new relationships, new break ups, angry conflicts with people I love, guilt and remorse, big moves, loneliness … In many, many ways, it was a renewed love of crafting as a way to focus my creativity, not the therapy, that saved me this year. If 25 had a soundtrack, it would be Modest Mouse’s “Good News for People Who Love Bad News,” with an emphasis on track 16.

Actually, the good news is that I’m a person who loves good news. I am perennially optimistic, saying things like, ”just one day at a time,” and “here’s the silver lining.” In my bones, I just know 26 is going to be great. Modest Mouse is so yesterday. Today, I’m rocking Stevie.

~Kelli

A view from my very busy kitchen yesterday.