Thanksgiving Grub Crawl!!

So at home we have an activity called a Pub Crawl, where participants pace their night and their drinking between a number of different establishments, sobering up (a little) on the walk between each one and enjoying each others company and the changing scene in each pub.

For Thanksgiving this year, my friends and I had a GRUB CRAWL!!! We had a different course at each house, spending a while at each house to socialise and digest, and truly I think it has to be the best Thanksgiving I've had so far. I know it is only Thanksgiving number 3, but I truly didnt think anything would be able to beat Disneyland last year (yup, that's right, my best mate got me over to her pad for turkey last year and then flew me to D'Land for the happiest 3 days I'd had in a long time!) But even the natives were saying that it was up there with the best turkey days they'd had...

2.00pm (EST) Course No. 1 - Starters at Jonny and Raul's flat


Here's the gang, tucking in to seasonal salad, beautiful soup and homemade corn biscuits. (Knatty Knitter is represented by her ball of sock wool).


A little Scrabble, a little knitting all to help the food go down...and by the end of starters we had one sock finished.

5.30pm (EST) Course No. 2 - Main at Jillian's (with beautiful assistant chefs, Julian and Summer)



More than one use for a sock toe!


The Happy Turkey Dance!


Merriment making (students dont have TVs).


Please note that for the ENTIRE day of Thanksgiving the heavens poured down upon us from above...making the trip between each flat more of a 'monsoon-jungle-safari' adventure, than a brisk city jaunt in fair Boston. It all added to the fun and DB and I couldn't help feel that the lashing rain had been sent from home, just for us!


8.30pm (EST) Course No. 3 - Desserts and Cheese at PARISA & KAITLYN's!!!! YEAY!!!


Please note the truly 'student' surroundings of fairy lights, seats as tables and 3 men to a couch :)

Speaking of pie, the ones in the pic are only half what was there as we had another table full (real table too, not a chair). We had blueberry, 2 apple pies (one of which was my apple pie and Athens said it was the best apple pie he'd ever had...such a friend!), pumpkin, coffee cake and Kaitlyn's 'Mystery Train' pie with a brie and pecan filling, sooooooo goooooooooooood...


Kolya got the coveted ball seat...



12.30am (EST) - Official end of Grub Crawl (that is 10 and a half hours of eating!)


Here are the gang, tired and full, but none the worse for wear! (And about to start watching 'Batman Begins' when the faders leave...Yeay for no school!)

And so the night ended, us all a little chubbier, but definitely even firmer friends, with memories to share when we're old and toothless and no need to eat for the next week! It was the best...I would highly recommend this way of eating for any larger meal or gathering. It shared out the cooking and cleaning, everyone got to play hostess with the 'most'ess, the socialising between courses wass brilliant (my sides still hurt from laughing), the walks in between revived and refreshed us and meant that by the time we got to the next stop we were all a little bit hungry for the next course, so we eat way more than we would have at one sitting. It was also the best excuse ever to spend an entire day in the company of family...maybe not by blood, but these people are definitely family!

School's OUT!

Phew! Made it through this demi-week and am ready for some R&R, pronto. Kolya's here too and we've been having a blast, dodging homework and teachers who's classes I've ditched :) Went to our first ever Ice Hockey match on Monday night, was great fun. What an atmostphere! The Boston Bruins were playing the Florida Panthers. Er, we lost...but that's OK because it was a good game and we got to sit at the very back of the very top balcony, we were soooooo high. Bestest view though for lil ol' me :) And I even busted out a little knitting between periods. It was a pair of socks I was making to pacify myself, I've been jealous of all the nice things I've been making for others that I thought it was high time I had a project on the go for me. Hardly the selfless knitter I should be (oh Brooke, you put me to shame).


Yeay, look at them go! While I'm here I have to post a pic of the amazing apple pie I made of the early thanksgiving dinner mates and I had last Friday. I was pretty proud I have to say, considering it was my first time making pastry without my mother onhand to save me from disaster. I managed the feat with only 2 cuts on my right hand (it's OK ladies and gentlemen, I'm a lefty!) and reports came back good so I was happy. I know it doesn't look quite normal, being square and all, but early on my Ma decided that circle ones just didnt last long enough with so many mouths in the house and making the slices square made it easier for us to help ourselves without destroying the rest of the pie, and so was born the square pie :) I even put little leaves on it and a heart in the middle, the dinner's hostess is heart crazy so it was just for her.

Knitting has knida been put on the back burner recently, waiting for the holiday for me to get back into it. My sockret pal socks have ground to an almighty halt. I really challenged myself with them and I'm not sure if I'm able for it now, but I'll be damned if this pattern beats me. The Christmas knitting was going great as well and then also dried up, have to get back into it, just don't want to make everyone the same things you know, what my gifts to be a bit more personalised and thoughtful than that. The only thing that's made any progress at all are the socks I started for myself. I'm using them as an opportunity to learn toe-up sock knitting and I LOVE IT! Think I'm going to make all my socks this way from now on.

Aww, I had to show you my knitting bag that my mother sentme over from home with Kol. I was given it for my 21st birthday by a friend of hers who doesn't knit anymore (crazy woman!) and I just love it, it's so cute. Wooden handles, bright red and with a mouse stealing the cats tail for yarn on the front...YES!! Too groovy! Speaking of nice parcels, I got one today from my Secret Pal...Hello Secret Pal...smarty pants even put that down as their name so I couldn't figure out who they were. SUch a sweet parcel, filled with a wee letter (Garfield, baby!), a purple circular needle holder, 6 beautiful blue stitch markers and the kitchest 'Pilgrim' salt and pepper shakers for my Thanksgiving table!! I bet she put them in their so I blend in better with the natives :)

Thank you so much for such a wonderful parcel, you obviously know me and my humour well. I couldn't stop beaming after opening it. Everything in it was just perfect.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow everyone. I'm spending it with my other international friends and few American's who were left as school so it's going to be gooooooood!

bored

at work, so bored...life sucks right now...in 2 hours time it will all be fine but right now, I want to curl up and die! My next class, is going to be so bad. Don't have the work done, it is sooooo overdue...dont know what I am going to say to my teacher. he is going to kiill me, in front of everyone. I'm an idiot, why do I let things like this happen and then have to dread things like this, feels awful. and I cant skip the class to get out of it because i did that last week! I'm screwed! I can get it all done at the weekend but I still have to liv ethrough the next few hours and i dont want to.

On the up side, tonight i am going to eat like a queen...a friend of mine is having an early thanksgiving dinner so she could cook for all our mates. it's going to be amazing. and i baked an apple pie for it, from my mothers own recipe and i just hope it came out ok. And then Sunday....oh Sunday...I cant wait!! just have to get through these next 2 hours...OK here I go...wish me luck :(

Frou Frou

frou·frou also frou-frou (frū'frū) n. 1).Fussy or showy dress or ornamentation. 2). A rustling sound, as of silk.
[French, of imitative origin.]

Since last we spoke many lovely and not so lovely things have happened (mainly homework/school related). I went to an Imogen Heap concert on Saturday night and she RULESSSSSSSSSSSS! for those who don't know her stuff, she's an amazing singer-songwriter, electronica extraordinaire. She was part of the duo Frou Frou (best known for there song 'Let's Go' on the Garden State soundtrack). In concert she was amazing and suprisingly enough I actually got a spot where I could see over everyone (all 5' 1'' of me!) Anyway you must, must, MUST check her out.

I have been very lazy and at many times this week thought about taking photos of my knitting but have never got past the thinking stage. I've started all my Christmas knitting in the vain hope that I might get it all done, not before Christmas day itself, but before my FINALS!! Fat Chance, I hear you say. I know but if you aim for the moon, you land amoung the stars (meaning I might actually get it all done for Christmas day and that would be pretty astounding in itself) So far I have finished one crotcheted scarf and 2 pairs of knitted mittens. Photos to come shortly, I promise. This ofcourse has meant that work on my sockret pal socks has slowed to a snails pace. My poor pal is going to be waiting awhile me thinks.

Today I went ot the Boston Museum of Fine Art (MFA) for the first time since moving here, which is such a crime considering that I get in free as a Berklee student and its 10 minutes away walking from where I live. But better late than never! And it was just wonderful, such amazing artifacts. Didn't even see that much of it as I was only there for an hour but it was fab. Lots of ancient Persian artifacts, all safely behind glass and looked after with the utmost care, yet looking just like the family heirlooms at home that my sibling and I have dunked in tea and dropped on hard wood floors. I think I'll be more careful from now on :) More on the MFA in a later blog...have to learn how to make links on my page first before I can post that one, but its knitting related and will blow your socks off. heehee, I'm such a tease.

And lastly, while I am writing this blog I shoudl really be doing crap loads of homework that I havent done yet. This is like weeks old stuff and I am in so SO much trouble with my teachers over probably. But life is busy and to be honest the things I have been doing in place of the homework are just as, if not more important, and completely related to my major and career choice after. sang backing vocals on a friends album last night and got to see the inside of a professional studio, and watch a master engineer at work. Then ofcourse I shamelessly introduced myself, told him my major and enquired about interning there in the summer. Two birds, one stone, baby! Ofcourse as we were leaving the studio, who was coming in but Bow Wow (aka Lil Bow Wow) laying down some tracks for R Kelly's new album. Not my cup of tea musically, but seriously rich, seriously (MTV) famous.

Well I should go do homework. I need to be a good girl and get everything I possibly can done before Sunday, so I am all caught up and relaxed and have nothing to do because...on Sunday...KOLYA ARRIVES!!! YEAY!!! Darling Boyfriend will be here to visit for a whole 10 days and .I.CAN.NOT.WAIT.!!!! AND he has expressed an interest to learn more knitting...I hope he's not joking, how cool would that be :)

I am woman! I am invincible! I am tired!

It's felt like a long week, even though I get tomorrow (Friday) off. I am so glad I can sleep in tomorrow, my head is killing me. I've caught up with all my classes, talked to teachers in classes I didnt think I was doing well in and all is now right in the world...hopefully! However a nice full long-weekend of homework lies ahead of me. I love what I do but sometimes I wish I was doing something I found extremely easy and could party loads and do very little homework like the other normal uni students do. I wish I didnt feel so much pressure to achieve above and beyond because I am one of VERY few girls in my degree and am always having to prove myself. I'm in bad form because I forgot some stuff in a studio session today and my fellow engineer didnt take it well and basically relieved me of all my duties. I should have been prepared and not forgotten, but it wouldnt have taken him a second to remind me, allow me to correct myself, thus learning (interesting concept in a school!!) and then allowed me to continue. Instead I get shamed and I feel rotten about it. And he thinks I'm an idiot now.

It is very difficult to achieve constantly under this kind of pressure. Constantly being pushed to prove yourself, to prove that you should be here, a woman in a mans profession, is extremely wearing and sometimes I want to scream. The fact that I am a human being should be proof enough of my right to be in any job I wish! The contemporary music industry however doesn't agree with me, and the music production and engineering business doubly doesn't agree with me. It has a tiny percentage of women working within and the majority of those are in administrative positions, not actually doing the producing or engineering.

Well not I!! I will have my freakin' cake and eat it! I will have a fabulous career and knock the socks off anyone who doubts me. I'll have a family as well and it will be hard but I will do it and be happy. I will also be extremely tired and only ever get to knit when there is a snow day or during childbirth. And so ends my rant :) now to sleep for a millenium...ZZZzzzzzzZZZzzzzzzzzzz

UFOs, FOs, WIPs and Porn! Oh Baby!

In line with my new vows to never abandon my blog for so long again, I felt I should take this time of new resolutions to take an inventory of my own knitting to date. I had never heard of a 'stash flash' or 'yarn porn' 'til I read other peoples blogs and I want in!! Unfortunately, after sorting out all my scraps from my skeins, I discovered I don't really have much fo interest to flash. I think if I just took off my top it would be more interest (I have a lovely set!)

Hmm, lets see what we have here. Well I have the lovely skein I was gifted by my sockret pal. Beside it are some wine red skeins of sock wool I treated myself to on my last trip to my LYS. I'm not sure whether to make socks or I was thinking of cool sleeves, like the hand/wrist warmer things. My flatmate pointed out that the Pomatomus pattern I was working on would look lovely on wrists too. I have 2 skeins of nice white suede, leftover from the hippy purse I crocheted from Stitch n Bitch: Happy Hooker (photo of it below). Everything else basically was gifted to me by a friend who bought yarn bulk online and didnt want all she got. Most of it is Lion Brand blends and some novelty yarns in the top lefthand corner. Think I'm going to use it all to make Yule gifts. The novelty yarn is super soft and machine washable so think it would make nice little slip-on socks for around the house, maybe for my sisters, and the rest will probably become scarves, legwarmers, wristwarmers and other such giftable items. Actually the 2 big skeins of yarn, dark green into purple and deep red, that make be good to make the Preppy Jacket I've wanted to crochet from Happy Hooker, if I could get my hands on a little more. All in all, its not a very exciting stash, full of odds, ends, half finished balls. I would love to own more natural fibers, and handdyed beauties but considering a lot of this is made up of gifts, I'm doing ok. I'm a student and I can live with the fact that I can't afford nice yarn yet...in time I will...in time :)

Here's a pic of my sockret pals sock-in-progress. I think it looks not too far off the pictures in the pattern so I'm pleased. My thrid sock ever is coming out grand. Like the colour too, lilac isn't usually my thing but now I see it knitted up its lovely for socks and I think my pal will love it. Just at the heel flap now, little nervous about the heel, but nothing will deter me from finishing this. I have already ripped it out FOUR times to get it as good as this and there is no way I'm turning back now. It does look pretty good on my hand, now that I see the photo. Interesting :)

I also finally got round to blocking the jumper (sweater!) I knit last spring break, Tubey from Knitty mag. Such an interesting pattern, so much fun to make and then I don't get round to finishing or blocking it when the knitting was finished! I even adjusted the pattern and put some pretty cables on the front. I was so proud of it but I think the weather turned after the break and I had no impetus to finish what I had started. It still needs some adjusting, the neck is a little too wide and low but that is easily altered. Should do it soon as it's perfect jumper weather in Boston right now. Sorry about the awful pic!

The perfect college girl sweater - flattering, practical and colourful!

I also blocked my crocheted hippy bag this weekend. I had blogged about it last month but its finally done and wearable and now the weathers cold and I just feel its more of a Spring/Summer bag. Boo hoo! I was thinking about giving it to my Mammy as her Christmas present. She loves to crochet and is soooooo good at it, and its my second crocheted item ever. It would be nice since she taught her lil lefty daughter to crochet.

And finally the crazy UFO that I just can't bring myself to finish. I tried the 'Sox on 2 Sticks' pattern from Knitty and said I'd give them to my flatmate. I finished the actual knitting a month ago and can't bring myself to sew them up and be done. They're pretty groovy looking and it was a good pattern, but I think I like my dbl points better for socks.


I'm really pining for the wool I had to leave at home due to luggage restrictions. Really fluffy mint-green yarn that wants to be a lacy knitted top with pointed elven sleeves and a long pointed hood. I also have a GIANT ball of aran yarn, thats black with green and blue flecks in it. Was thinking about it as I drifted off to sleep, how nice I'd look in a fitted jumper, with a deep v-neck in that yarn, and have enough leftover for a set of matching legwarmers. *Sigh* it's a lovely dream, but it will just have to wait til the Winter holidays.

OMG, I forgot to say, my Darling Boyfriend (DB) sent my a wee parcel the other day, with sweeties from home (mmmmm Haribo and Fruit Pastilles), a girlie mag, my knitting diary that I had left at home, the new Corrine Bailey Rae album (phenomenal, you all need to hear it, light, sunny music to lift the soul) AND a letter in which he included 'plans' for a knitting room in our house when we live together. My DB...

1). volunarily wrote about scary future stuff!!
2). would actually let me have a room devoted to my knitting and music!!
3). wants us to live together!!

Well, I never! It was just amazing and wonderful and I was so happy and taken aback by its sweeteness. Like we have talked about our future and that we are very serious (would need to be, what with this crappy ocean between us) and that 'one day' (far off in the future so as not to scare anyone too much and make it more easily managed) we would get married and live together. But this was just to sweet. I love him so much!! AND I get a knitting room in the future...**Doin' a little Dance**

WTF, mate?

To my lovely Knitty Knatty friends, I am so sorry for my extended disappearance but be sure you're sitting comfortably, with your cup of tea...here's the catch up!!

So life has been well hectic these last few weeks. In school-land, it was midterms week this week, so I've been working hard studying for such incredible subjects as Traditional Harmony, Counterpoint and Digital Multitrack Recording. I'm crazy!! But I love it, so what can I do :)

On the knitty-front, I got my first SOCKRET PAL PARCEL a few weeks ago and let me tell you, it freakin' rocked.
Look at all that goodness!! I gotst Burt's Bee Lip Glosses (all different flavours, I'm currently working my way through raspberry), halloween 70% dark chocolate (heaven!) and a skein of hand dyed merino 'Fleece Artist' and a set of bamboo dbl pts to knit it up on!!!!

Seriously, is that not the most goregous colourway you've ever seen! I'm so excited about owning that I have absolutely no idea what to do with it. Any ideas greatly appreciated! Well, there are enough for a pair of socks and I don't own any of my own knitted socks...but I was thinking something a bit groovy, like gloves, but dressy ones...just not sure. But what I am sure about is a love, love, LOVE it and my sockret pal is the ultimate!! Thank you Pal-io!


In other knitting news, I'm working on my pair of socks for my sockret pal, and have decided to do a lovely lilac version of the Knitty pattern 'Pomatomus'. I'm nearly finished the first leg, but either I can't count or there is something wrong with one of the charts in teh pattern, but I've improvised a little. Anyone knit this pattern before, insight or help would be welcome. I've set myself quite a challenge, considering this is only the third pair of socks I've ever knit!


On the home front, I love living with my flatmate, Kaitlyn, and feel that she is too beautiful not to go into this superblog...so here she is...so lovely!


We also invested in an espresso machine not long ago, as we were basically keeping Boston Starbucks in business and blowing our rent there, AND just the other day I made the perfect latte, with the perfect foam top and I just had to share it with you all...I was very proud!


Halloween was a blast. All students were celebrating this weekend, as it fell midweek and conflicted with exams, but that certainly didn't lessen the fun! Friends of mine had a fancy dress party and I went as a 'Grey Angel'...well I just don't think I'm good enough to be a full white one! Think the angels from the film 'Dogma', they're more my style! And its a line from one of my songs (ww.myspace.com/parisar) so it seemed appropriate.


And as promised since I'm posting photos, this one is for you Brooke. I said I'd show you my recent nose piercing and here it is, though now I've swapped the ball for a very fetching little diamond :)

Last but not lest, it is officially the two week count down til Kolya, my lovely, is back in Boston to visit!! YEAY!! Can't wait to see him and hug him and kiss him and knit him...I mean love him! But truly it's going to be phenomenal. He's been having a rough time of it at home and I feel really helpless out here, not being able to help. I can't even be supportive on the phone, I just screw it up, but when he comes over I am going to lookafter him so good and we'll have a lovely thanksgiving here together. Only my third thanksgiving EVER! And on that note let me leave you with a picture of home Kol's Dad took from their garden. It'ss of the lough our village is on and looks across to the Republic of Ireland and the mountain range there. Just so beautiful, it makes my heart feel awful full!

Procrastinating hardcore!! (dodging the homework/write a proper blog bullet)

What Color is Your Brain?

BLUE:

At work or in school: I like to be with people, sharing with them, inspiring them, and helping them. I work and learn best when I can take into consideration people and the human element. I flourish in an atmosphere of cooperation.
With friends: I always look for perfect love. I am very romantic, and I enjoy doing thoughtful things for others. I am affectionate, supportive and a good listener.
With family: I like to be happy and loving. I am very sensitive to rejection from my family and to family conflicts. I really like to be well thought of and need frequent reassurance. I love intimate talks and warm feelings.
Take this quiz!








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SP9 competition questions

1. Where is your favorite knitting spot?
I love knitting in my bed, while watching 'Sex and the City' or 'Grey's Anatomy'. I knit everywhere though, and its more who than where that makes me happy when I knit. I love knitting when my boyfriend is chilling out with me, I know it sounds odd, but I think I like the companionship and being so comfortable with someone that you don't have to be doing something together to just be together.

2. If you suddenly could never knit again (shudder) - what would you do instead?
Well I already crotchet and love it (my Ma is the real crotcher and I'm the knitter, but we both do both, if that makes sense!) I love beading so maybe I"m do more of that. Suppose could catch up on my reading, but it would be a sad day!!

3. If you could travel anywhere in the world - where would you go and why?
Right now it would be back home to Ireland, into my beloved's arms and to the wide open spaces, beautiful mountains and stormy sea that I love. I really want to see Australia too and I miss India (spent my gap year there, doing voluntary work)

4. When you were little - What did you want to do "when you grew up?" Are you doing it?
I wanted to sing and preform on stage but that was my secret. And now I'm at music school and hopefully working towards that dream.

5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Haagen Daaz's Belgian Chocolate is really good. Also Phish Food by Ben and Jerry's, and ofcourse the classic double cream vanilla ice cream from Devon...sinful!!

Check in...

Just a quick post while I'm sitting at work, just to let everyone know that I havent dropped off the face of the earth and that I'm really sorry for not blogging sooner. It has been a busy week and I have lots to tell and loads of photos to put up but I need half an hour of minutes all in a row with no interuptions or homework needing finished, THEN I can blog....oh YEAY! On the up side I didnt go to any of my classes today 'cause I couldnt fall asleep until 4.30 am (was feeling very anxious, don't know why) and when I went to check my post I had a mysterious parcel...wonder what that could be!!

Life is good, Tiger Duck!!

:(

I've had a bit of a down day today. First one since I got back to Boston for school and Kolya left. I don't even know whats wrong entirely. I think I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with the amount of school work I have on a the moment. I spend all my time running betwen classes, work and the studios, and any free time is meant to be spent on homework but when I get home I'm often so tired I fall asleep without dinner. Even if I dont do that and manage to get food, I really don't feel able for the homework I have. My brain stops functioning, but then I stay up late doing stupid time wasting things or, even worse, I worry about the amount of work I have to do but can't get done because I am so tired!! It's a bad cycle and I don't know how to get some perspective on it at the moment.

I was also sick today which didn't help, and I'm really missing Kolya too. Also, and this really bugs me, is that I'm not entirely unpacked into my new bedroom yet. My suitcase is half unpacked and my desk is covered in all sorts of rubbish so I can't work on it. It's really annoying me that I don't have a beautiful, tidy, organised place to come home to. Kol and I promised that we'd get it done before he left but with his time here limited we always let slide...'We'll do it tomorrow!'

I shouldn't be moaning too much though, because today I received my parcel from Rachel, the sockret pal hostess, sending me my winnings from the online competition. I never win anything so it was really exciting and I never get an real post to my school postbox so it was a really lovely thing to find there and did help to brighten my day. I got Lion Brand self-striping wool in denim shades and the Yarn Girls knitting book, hardcover(!!). I can't believe how generous she was to me. It's really touching finding thias knitting community that I never really knew existed. I was considered the nerd at school for knitting and now I'm part of a friendly, energetic, giving community of truly amazing knitters!! LUCKY!!!!

In other knitting news, while queuing for THREE HOURS at school to book studio time for our next round of homework project (yes, that is standard practice, I wasn't alone) I made great progress on a pair of bright orange and blue socks I'm making for my flatmate. I'm using the flat knit pattern that is in the current knitty mag, just to see what I thought of the change. It's a nice way to knit socks but I think I prefer my double points best. Also I'm going hunting this weekend for my sockret pal, to find the perfect wool to grace her worthy feet. Any idea or tips would be greatly appreciated :)


And lastly alittle something I found online this evening to salivate over!! Isn't it gorgeous. Maybe this is shameful but I just found it on the Lisa Souza website, it's her handpainted sock wool and it's called 'Emerald City' and, I swear to God, just looking at it reminds me of home!! The colours and how they mingle, merge into each other. It's like someone photographed the Mourne Mountains (the mountains surrounding my village) and transfered the photo straight to wool! So if anyone *eh hem* (I'm talking to you Mothers, Boyfriends, Secret Pals,...) have any doubts about what to get me ever, this would be a fine place to start...wow, this probably is pretty cheeky of me. Well, either way I will own a skein of this come hell or high water, I'm going to start saving from now...hopefully I'll be able to afford it by my next birthday, LOL!!! I'm off the treat myself to a cup of tea the size of my head and an episode of Sex and the City before bed. Promise to be in better form tomorrow, nighty nighty all!

Buttons Baby!!

So proud of myself, I've *finally* worked out how to get freakin' buttons on my page!!! Looks all nice and lived in now, with a few buttons and some more blogs :)

Annoyed though, because I found this amazing Stitch n Bitch button that flicked between the words 'Stitch' 'Bitch'...was well clever and now I cant remember where I found the darn thing!! Trust me to forget!

*Secret Pal 9 Questionnarie*

Welcome to SP9!

Below is the questionnaire for this round. Please post your answers to your blog before October 15th. Be sure you post the questionnaire where your pal can easily find it. :-)

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Like most knitters I dont like scratchy, itchy yarns and a definite natural nut!! Natural fibers are my fav but blends are cool too. I love stuff thats been hand dyed or spun, it has character :)

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Unfortunately all my knitting stuff is sitting in an old Urban Outfitters plastic bag, all jumbled up together. I would kill for one of those gorgeous needle holders, that are made with all the pretty material and then roll up all neat and tidy *sigh*

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting since I was 3-4 years old, but have been doing it pretty hardcore for the last 2 years. I would say that I am an intermediate knitter. I like more challenging projects as well as easy ones, and feel that with jumper/sweater knitting im pretty advanced. working on the sock knitting tho, working on my second pair EVER right now!

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I dont but feel free to bombard me with questions if you need to know more. I have a wishlist in my head, just not online :)

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
i love natural scents...lavender, rose, jasmine...fruity smells are lovely too. I've been wearing really feminie stuff recently, lots of ylang-ylang and jamine in it so make me feel like superwoman. Basically the only stuff I dont like are synthetic scents that are really obviously fake and musks, they give me a headache.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I do have a sweet tooth. I LOVE dark chocolate, like the real deal high cocoa%. I'm european so good chocolate is the holy grail while im here in the States...still havent found a brand that i really love. I also love fruity sweets, like Fruit Pastelles (theyre a sweety from home!) and Tweezlers and just anything is cool. Candy is just cool!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I am the daughter of a crotcheting fiend so I'm not too bad with the ole hook. I also love jewellery making, sewing, would love to learn about spinning and dyeing, as I know very little about it but am very interested. Basically anything crafty, I'm there!

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Oh boy, what a question! I'm a music student s othe list is never ending. At the moment, I'm getting into Fiona Apple, Artic Monkeys, Snowpatrol (theyre from N. Ireland too, YEAY), Lily Allen, Corrine Bailey Rae, The Killers...anything good and interesting...generic boring pop not so much, but not to say no pop. i just like music that is individual...i can hear the song and go 'Well thats definitely so-and-so".... stuff with a bit of substance :)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I'm not a pastel girl at all, looks awful on me, makes me look sick and washed out. I love bright colours, rich colours...aubergine (eggplant), deep scarlet, teal, yellows, greens are my thing...love green to wear, my bedroom is green, such a good colour...but basically anything thats not a wimpy colour, must have some strength to it!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I dont have any pets, but my boyfriends family have cats that I love and consider part mine :) I'm the eldest of 4 children and the first to fly the coop to university, which is where I am now. I am in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend of 4 years in Ireland.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I do, I do indeed!

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love knitting jumpers (sweaters) for myself, booties for all my new little cousins, newsboy caps for friends and family and am currently working on socks 'cause I will get good at them if its the last thing I do!!

13. What are you knitting right now?
flat knit socks (trying out the pattern to see what I think...think I like in the round better tho), crotchet boho bag - not technically knitting but still a WIP.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes, please.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Circular, dble points or straight is all fine with me, I like all. I mainly have metal needles. I love funky plastic ones and bamboo ones as a treat but at the mo my student budget cant stretch to accommadate them :(

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No I dont. I assume these are the things for winding your skeins into balls...if so I'd love one, handiest inventions EVER!

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
A friend of mine asked me to knit him a hat when I first got to college, so 2 years ago, but I never finished it for him. However, at the moment my policy is to frog anything older than 6 months thats still on needles with no progress. I figure that after that amount of time if I dont finish it, I never will!!

18. What is your favorite holiday?
At the moment, its going back home to Ireland to see my family, especially my crazy siblings, and my beautiful boyfriend. I come for one of the most beautiful places in the world and everytime I go home, I fall in love with it all over again! I love visiting Europe and last year spent my second ever Thanksgiving in Disneyland, CA...freakin' brilliant!!!

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I love old things, antique nick-nacks from junk shops...like old jewellery, boxes to keep treasures in, letter writing things. I also love little perfume bottles and fairy related things. Anything unusual I love.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I'm not subscribed to any magazine. i have been looking at Lisa Souza yarn recently and it looks gorgeous...ive been wanting to treat myself to some really nice hand-dyed stuff recently. Basically anything would be appreciated now however, as i couldnt bring most of my knitting bag back with me to Boston for the new school year because of reduced luggage weight, so I have very little to work with. I have always wanted a pattern for a deep-v sweater/jumper/hoodie...something that is sexy and flattering and shows alittle cleavage :) looked everywhere for one but they are usually only little v-necks, not particularly deep.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I would love to learn Fair Isle, it scares me alittle. I know how to do the stitches individually for Aran sweaters but havent plucked up the courage to actually do them all at once in a sweater. Also I hate finishing, and hiding away all the loose ends, so anythign that makes that easier would be greatly appreciated!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I have knitted socks before and am working on improving myself in that area. My feet are UK size 5/6, European 38, US 7/8.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
9th June

**Below is a questionnaire I filled out for the Sockret pal swap that I'm involved with at the moment and might be useful for you to read, particularly near the bottom, which is just me introducing myself a bit better.**

Sock-ret Pal Questionnaire!

Sock-ret Pal Questionnaire

Please post the answers to your own blog once you receive your swap partner info – if you post it too soon, your pal will have trouble finding it, buried beneath other posts.

Also, on your initial contact with your pal, you will need to ask for their mailing address, since you don’t want to be posting that up on your blog *S*

The basics:
How long have you been knitting? Since I was 4 years old, but hardcore for the last 2 years.
Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep? I'm an intermediate/advanced knitter, but when it comes to socks I've only ever done one pair so I'd say I'm pretty beginner-y!
 
The measurements:
While your pal may ask for some additional info to ensure a great fit, please provide your shoe size, or any other fitting related info you think is pertinent. I am a UK size 5/6, European 38, US 7/8. I have skinny ankles so socks tent to fall down on me :(
 
(fiber related) Favorites:
What colors do you love? I love bright colours. Contrasting colours are beautiful like blue and orange, red and green (so long as they are the right shades for each other). I suit greens a lot, wear a lot of blue-greens/teals, purple/aubergine( I think you guys call it eggplant in the US), yellows, black, everything. Basically I love anyhing with conviction, deep colours like red/burgundy, khaki green, golds...autumn colours are boooootiful! I cannot stand pastel shades! They make me look ill when I wear them. So any colour is fine for me, just no pastels (why didnt I say it like that from the start, sorry!) :)
Do you prefer solids or variegated? I dont mind either way, though solids might just be my fav by a nosehair.
What fibers do you most love to knit with? anything natural and soft.
Who do you consider your favorite yarn vendors?
What projects (other than socks, of course*S*) do you most enjoy knitting? I love knitting hoodies and jumpers (sweaters). Also little booties for my newest cousins and newsboy caps for all the grown up ones. Really want to make myself a pair of legwarmers and some slippers for the Bostonian winter.
 
(fiber related) Dislikes:
What fibers can  you not stand to knit with? To wear? Anything scratchy or looks like my grandmother would have forced my Mother to wear!
What colors would you never wear? PASTELS....the only remotely pastel thing I own is a powder blue/green (nearly minty coloured) jumper, its lovely. I cant wear some shades of yellow, makes me look jaundiced...it has to be pretty rich and buttery..not lemony! NOthing too blue, must be on the greener side of things...sorry I'm just blabbing on here :)
 
The Tools:
Plastic or Metal? Bamboo or wood? any and everything. bamboo are for when I want to treat myself tho, student budgets dont quite stretch that far.
Circs or Straights? again either are cool with me.
DPNs or Magic Loop? I use DPNs all the time (as well as circular needles) I have no idea what Magic Loop is...maybe you want to educate me :)
Are there any knitting accessories you don't have in your collection but would like? Well at the moment I'm very low on everything, I had to leave my knitting bag back home due to limited packing space so I have pretty much nothing right now. I have been pining for some pretty stitch markers and point protectors, but at this moment in time anything would be helpful!
 
The Extras:
Do you have a wish list? If so, please share the link! no sorry, but feel free to ask me more questions if you like.
Do you like sweet, sour or salty? (or all of the above? *S*) I am a food fiend so anything is good. I love salty, dairy (cheese, glorious cheese!), sweet, sour, anything. I love chocolate, but particularly the dark stuff with high cocoa content, nice and bitter (being from Europe I'm a bit of a chocolate snob...not that I wont eat the cheap stuff, its good, it just all tastes different in the US until you get to the better quality stuff)
Do you have any allergies your pal should know about? (Certain foods, smoke, pet hair, etc) nope.
Favorite scents? Scents you can't stand? I love anything that smells natural and real. Lavender, rose, jasmine are a few favs. also love fruity smells. Basically again anything is fine, but cant stand things that smell synthetic...musks and fake floral smells just give me a headache.
Do you collect anything (other than yarn and knitting toys of course)? I love original jewellery. I have a ridiculous number of earrings! The bigger the better I think when it comes to them. I also love rings. I love collecting little nicknacks from vintage shops. I love things that look old/antique. I love finding little antique purses/wallets or wee nicknack boxes.
When is your birthday? (month and day is fine!) 9th June, 1985!
Do you spin? Dye your own yarn? No I havent done wither of those to things yet, but I'm really interested to learn about spinning, sounds fun.
Your favorite author/band/vacation spot, anything you think will help your pal know you better...hmmm well fav author would have to be....oh boy there are so many...Nick Hornby, Shakespeare, Emily Bronte, Zadie Smith.....fav bands, this list is going ot be even worse as I am a music student so I listen to ridiculous amounts of music, at present I am listening to (taken straight off my ipod!) Kate Bush (she rules!), Arctic Monkeys, SnowPatrol, Regina Spektor, The Who, Run DMC, Shostacovich (classical composer)...my tastes are varied. Right now my fav holiday spot would be back home in Ireland in my boyfriends arms! I would love to go to Australia some day and take more time exploring Europe, I go there so often but dont feel i take the time to really explore, I take it for granted being so close.

So as you've probably realised from reading this that I have hugely varying tastes in a lot of things. Basically I'm easy going, there are very few things I dont like...more than anything I want to get to know other passionate knitters!

A bit of background info on me...I'm from Northern Ireland. My mother is from the Republic of Ireland and my daddy is from Iran, so I'm half Irish and half Persian. I'm the eldest of 4 kids (I miss my wee munchkins!) and am in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend of 4 years, who is also from home.

I'm currently living in Boston, getting my degree at Berklee, College of Music, majoring in Music Production and Engineering (all the tech head studio stuff and live sound). I am a singer-songwriter, I also play the flute, tinwhistle, harmonica, arabic flute and am learning the guitar. My degree is the most fun in the world but is pretty stressful and hardwork, lots of late night sessions in the studios (I have been in the studio til 2am the past 2 nights producing and assisting recordings, and then am up at 9am for work and class). I get pretty burnt out so I'm really looking forward to a wee spoiling :)

Outside of music, I love art, literature, films (did you see the Illusionist? absolutely brilliant, go now, I insist you stop reading and go to the cinema!), clothes (shallow I know but I liketo make them, change them...buttons are great!), Sex and the City, West Wing (just got given the first few series and I'm hooked), Grey's Anatomy (It's not like I have time ot watch anyo f this, I just like to daydream about watching it while knitting)...hmm what else...walkis, the outdoors, I come from a wee village right on the coast of Ireland, surrounded by mountain on a lough that opens into the Irish sea, Boston is lovely but living in the city just isnt the same as having all that space and sky :)

My friends say that I am a fairy trapped in a humans body. When I was little I always wanted to be a punk, but always ended up more hippyish...I got pretty upset about this, a little Irish hippy fairy cant be listening to the Ramones and enjoying it so much?! but t was my mother who really hit hte nail on the head, she said you are all those things and that is called a Bohemian :) I am a proud Bohemian...nice to meet you. hope this was all helpful.

p.s. if you want to hear some of my music Iim on myspace...myspace.com/parisar
 

Oh Yeaaaaaaaahhhhh!!

(singing in a goofy lil voice) "OH Yeah, It's Here...Sockret Pal....Oh Yeah!!!!"

cue *bad dancing*!!

OK I'm off, gotsta go questionnaire some stuff...will post it super soon!

**"TO THE BAT-CAVE"**

PHOTOS FINALLY!!

PHEW! So here it is my pride and joy...a week ago!! It's now actually finished and lying on the floor of my bedroom, blocking. With any luck you might see finished photos a week from now :)

It's been a busy, busy week. School is 2 weeks in now so the grace period is over and its down to hard graft. I've been in the studios recording so many times already and things are only set to get busier. Also my boyfriend has been staying with me for the last 3 weeks, he came over from home to help me move in, and so I havent really been making time for much else apart from him and doing whatever school work is absolutely necessary. He goes back to Ireland today though. It'll be a hard drop back to reality, I get so used to having him around 24/7. Time to put my creative skills to good use and practice my sock knitting to take my mind off him. Christmas break always comes way sooner than I think it will and then Kol will be moving to NY to work and life will be good - no more long distance, WOOHOO (well technically it still is but, hey, its better than having the Atlantic between you!!)

The only thing that will get me through this week is the thought that I will be finding out who my Sockret Pal is and I honestly CANNOT wait I am so excited. I tried to fill out the questionnaire earlier this week and I don't have a clue what to say...It shouldn't be this hard to describe yourself and your likes and dislikes. I find myself to-ing and fro-ing on things, I seem to like everything and am mortally afraid of being pigeon-holed. When did I get so worried about how other people see me? Very scary!

And speaking of being pigeon-holed, I got my nose pierced yesterday (noone tell my parents!!). I thought people would be shocked or wonder why I did it, but today NOONE has noticed and when I point it out they're like "wow, it just looks like you were born with it. I was going to say something but then I thought you had always had it done!" (however I go to a contemporary music school so nose piercings are childs play round here!) Maybe it doesn't colour a persons opinion of you as I thought it did. That's probably just my parents opinions screwing me up :) I'd love some thoughts though from others out there...What do you think of piercings and tattooes and the like? Does it make a difference to how you view the person? I'm worried people wont take me as seriously and my Ma always said that as a musician (singer/songwriter) I would be alienating potential audiences.

OK, after reading that all back I cant believe how insecure I sound and for the record I must say it really suits me, I've wanted it for awhile now, Kol loves it and I've no regrets!! I will try to get a pic up ASAP and stop writing these epic blogs about very little :)

Sock-ret Pal swap!! and the All-Ireland Football Final

I just got into my first swap and I am so excited. It's the Sock-ret Pal Swap and I'll have ot knit someone a pair of socks. I'm alittle nervous about this as I have only ever knitted one pair of socks in my life. Granted they worked out fine and are very loved by their owner (well he is sleeping in my bed so he'd better love them!), it was a test of nerve turning those 2 heels so whoever gets my socks had better appreciate the sweat, blood and tea that went into them. I cant wait for it to begin!!

Also in crochet news, I have finally finished all the granny squares needed to make my bohemian bag and now just have to construct the thing. I have photos that I will post tomorrow or at least at a more sane hour today! I have been itching to knit though, I miss it but was forced to leave all my knittin suppies back home in Ireland due to an excess of new clothes bought while home, leading to limited space in my luggage (damn you Primark!!). What is a girl to do...clothes or knitting goodies?! It's like asking you which of your arms you'd rather not have chopped off!!

My boyfriend is badgering me to go to bed, we're getting up early to go to the North end of Boston to watch the All-Ireland Gaelic football final in a pub, and it'll be so much fun. Gaelic football is the native sport of Ireland and a real man and womans sport (the womans matches tend to be more vicious than the mens!). It makes me miss home, but it's worth it. Kerry is playing Mayo for the honour of calling themselves the best footballing county in Ireland. Quite an achievement when you bear in mind there are 32 counties in the whole of Ireland, North and South. Well I know who I'll be going for, as I proudly come from a Kerry bloodline...my Nana likes to tell me how I could be the Kerry rose in the Rose of tralee contest if I wanted (it's a 'lovely ladies' pagant held in Tralee, Ireland every year and is loved the nation over by grannies!) No chance of me ever appearing in anything like that but I let her dream. So off to bed I go....UP KERRY!!!

I GOT A COMMENT!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I proud to announce that I have just received my first comment ever. It was left by a lovely fellow knitter who valiantly tried to warn me of the perils of knitblogs but, alas, it seems that I am hooked!

I'm so proud, someone actually read this blog of their own accord, someone who doesn't know me or have any obligation to do so!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH, you made me day. (My boyfriend is reading this over my shoulder...we've been together 4 years and he's only realising now that I am a nerd!!)

Secret Pal 9

So ever since I found out that Knitters blogged and had their own websites, I have been obsessed with the idea of the knitter secret swaps that they have going on, and now I have my own blog I want to be part of one SOOOOOOOOOO badly!! I just applied to be part of Secret Pal 9, which seems to be one of the largest knit swaps, and I really hope they let me participate.

One of the rules says that new bloggers must have atleast 10 posts though to be eligible, so I'm going to post LOADS this weekend and hope that counts because I swear I'm serious about this all. I want to do it so badly!! So if you are a member of SP9 and you're checking out my site to see if I'm eligible PLEASE see that I am geniunely excited to be a part of this swap!

What was meant to be about what projects I'm working on but turned into 'Knatty Knitter: A History of'

So right now I am utterly addicted to the new book in the Stitch n Bitch series, 'Happy Hooker'. I bought it for myself as a treat when I got back to Boston to start my new semester here (I'm in my last year of my degree!!! AAAAHHHH!!!) I have always been a huge fan of the Stitch n Bitch series, the first of which I received for Christmas 2 years ago (just after starting in Boston) and have been on a knitting spree ever since. This book on crotchet is great though and finally bridges the gaps that myself and my Mother weren't able to get over ourselves.

I've been knitting since I was very small, I think about 3/4 years old, though my want to do it came and went every few years, depending of fashion, school work and if I could steal anymore of my Mam's yarn. Mammy taught me, her wee left-handed daughter to knit, and I took to it immediately. Art and Maths collide in my life often, particularly as I love Music, but I think knitting was the first place these two loves of mine met. However, my Mammy's true love and calling is crotchet. She was taught as a young girl by an elderly neighbour of her family and used to make all sorts of crazy beehive hats and scarves for her ones. When it came to teaching me though, it all went wrong. For a start I did everything backwards from her and it seemed so crazy and freeform to me that I just couldn't grasp it. UNTIL NOW!! All of a sudden everything my Mam ever said to me has started making sense. I crotcheted my first scarf over the summer and am now working on the bohemian granny-squares bag in 'Happy Hooker' and loving it. Suddenly it doesn't seem random and non-sensical, it seems liberating and allowing for improvisation.

I also have a new appreciation for my Mammy's crotcheted creations. I have always loved them but now I see their inner workings more clearly and that deepens the love. Mammy will crotchet just about anything that sits still long enough but these last few years she has been experimenting with wire and beading to creat magnificent crotcheted jewellery - necklaces, cuffs, even belt pieces - and even better she has started selling them in local craft stores at home, under the name 'Lily Cobweb'! The two pics I have at the top of the page are of a necklace she made as a present for my friend Kelly and the other is of some crazy 'bullion' thingys she's been playing with recently, kind of looks like beach treasure!

She still does her lace and baby blanket and has been promising me a little 70's crotcheted dress for as long as I remember, but it is this new innovative work that really grabs my attention. I want to be as creative and free-spirited as she is, and usually I am, especially in my music, but recently I have lost that impulse. I think its kind of been worked out of me in school but I want to find it again! Truth be told, I was never that Mathsy, I loved it but my heart lies happy with the ethereal, spiritual force inside me that never cared I couldn't cut paper in a straight line (left-handed perogative!) and stand still when I played my flute (used to drive my teacher nutty..supposedly ruins your tone, but it was good music, I had to move and look who's in music school now!). Anyway that is enough ranting, especially considering I don't actually have ANY readers yet. Oh well, this blogs just for me and it's made me super happy!!