Astrid Cloverleaf: a knitting persona blog

Back from the Muggle Wedding

2009-08-31T15:08:00.001-04:00

the fiance and i went to a muggle wedding in Pittsburgh this past weekend for one of my best friends. here are 2 of my fave's from the weekend...

Us at the rehearsal dinner

The Bride and groom on their pastor's motorcycle at the reception

we have socks!

2009-08-16T19:19:00.002-04:00

this is what i've been up to lately... i am so pleased with these babies! they're sport weight with a nice open pattern that went super quick. perfect for the chilly nights at Hogwarts!

Going Incommunicado for a Bit

2009-08-05T16:06:00.003-04:00

hahahaha, that made me laugh!

my dead computer, however, made me cry, pull my hair out, and sweat bullets. i also got online with Dell tech support last night for just shy of an hour and managed to get a new motherboard and AC adapter, and fixed webcam. and the tech is coming to me.

basically, outside of work hours, i won't have any computer access for the next few days. my fiance has a computer, but it's so virus laden and painfully slow, that i will do without instead of getting frustrated at his. it was sufficient to chat with Sai in India last night, but that's about it. *sigh*

Summer Games #6

2009-07-29T13:46:00.002-04:00

first potion is "Draught of Peace" containing both Powdered Moonstone and Syrup of Hellebore

second potion is "Mandrake Draught" and is used to revive people who get petrified

third potion is "Babbling Beverage" and is used to cause the target to speak nothing but nonsense.

fourth potion is "Murtlap Essence" and is used as the antidote for the boils from the Fever Fudge from the Weasley twins' skiving snackboxes.

New Muggle Blog

2009-07-26T22:08:00.003-04:00

Hello fellow HPers!

I started a new blog this week to chronicle the trials, joys and annoyances of planning a wedding. Even though it is a "simple" Vegas wedding, there is still a lot to do for gifts and attire and hotels and and...

Needles & Pens

summer games #5

2009-07-20T16:48:00.007-04:00

1. Man or mouse? (4) animagus

2. Start spreading the news (4) daily prophet

3. Stick Tree Guardian (3) bowtruckle

4. Telescoping eavesdropper (5) extendable ear

5. Brassicaceae danglers (4) radish earrings

6. Prohibited Ggowth of trees (5) forbidden forest

7. Metallic rosy-faced child with wings (4) golden cherub

8. Fleshless black-winged skeleton (2) thestral

9. Lofty philosopher (5) high inquisitor

10. Instructive Order (7) educational decree

camp awards

2009-07-16T14:07:00.000-04:00

yay! we won something! :)

Wedding Update

2009-07-13T16:46:00.005-04:00

I won 2 free books from Inkubook.com. Just wanted to share some of the fun stuff that I've been working on! As a reminder, we're getting married in Vegas with a few friends and later, having a reception in Miami for the other 100-150 people.

Cheers!

Summer Games 3... Fears!

2009-07-07T13:35:00.003-04:00

One of my biggest fears is spiders. I hate the little buggers. My dorm room has the all over the place and they creep me out!

However, a little cry of ridikkulus! and they turn into.....

Summer Games 2, Part 2

2009-07-04T13:37:00.004-04:00

Here's my answers to the next set of the summer games... this was so much easier and made more sense once that problems were fixed.

17-4, 14-1, 9-6, 3-3
When
18-2, 3-3
in
19-4, 11-2, 9-3, 8-5, 15-9
doubt
7-1, 11-2
go
15-9, 11-2
to
15-9, 14-1, 9-6
the
13-8, 18-2, 8-5, 16-3, 6-5, 16-3, 5-3!
library!

My guess is Hermione Granger.. who else would dart to the library on a constant basis?! :)

well I was incorrect, but at least Ron was talking *about* Hermione.. that's gotta count for something, right?

Summer Games #2 - Anagrams!

2009-06-30T10:00:00.003-04:00

Astrid's Answers...

Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter
Ron Weasley
Hermione Granger
Gryffindor
Dark Arts
Gilderoy Lockhart
Chamber of Secrets
House elf
Harry Potter
Moaning Myrtle
Harry Potter
Ron Weasley
Harry Potter
Voldemort
Horcrux
Ron Weasley
Ginny Weasley
Gilderoy Lockhart
Prisoner of Azkaban

In the second volume of the HP books by JK Rowling, The (#1)Chrome Cab Festers, we continue to learn the incredible adventures of Hogwarts student (#2) Parry He Trot and his friends (#3) Oral Weensy and (#4) Angering Her More. Belonging to the house of (#5) Dry Off Grin, they attend Defense Against the (#6) Ark Darts taught by Wizarding celebrity (#7) Oracle Dorky Light, a none-too-bright fellow who cannot even handle pixies!

In The (#8) Chrome Cab Festers, we also meet Dobby a (#9)See Flu Oh for the first time. Determined Dobby seeks to sabotage the return of (#10) Parry He Trot to Hogwarts and is pretty persistent but is unsuccessful. After a few weeks at school, the deceased Ravenclaw student who haunts the girls lavatory, also known as (#11) My Molten Grain, shows (#12) Parry He Trot and (#13) Oral Weensy an old empty diary that dropped through her ghostly form out of thin air!

Many nifty things continue to happen for the next several months… we won’t go into all the juicy details right now… however, the ending is prime reading indeed!! (#14) Parry He Trot finally kills Tom Riddle’s (a.k.a #15 Mold Voter) sneaky diary (which we now know is a #16 Crux Rho) and saves the sister of (#17) Oral Weensy, (#18) Gayly Nine Sew!!!

Oh! Of course, we must mention that the thickheaded (#19) Oracle Dorky Light unintentionally erased his own memory, so he won’t be back for book three, The (#20) Snob In A Froze Parka…

Truths and Lie Revealed

2009-06-23T10:32:00.002-04:00

This is a follow up from this post.

1. I tried watching LOST but don't get the appeal
LIE! I am completely and totally obsessed with this show. I would name our daughter Juliet Katherine and our son Sawyer Desmond if my fiance would let me.. but I'll be vetoed on both surely.

2. I am getting married in Las Vegas... eventually
TRUE - We are planning on either 01-11-10 or 10-10-10 in Vegas with a few friends and family members for 5 days of fun! oh, and a wedding ceremony..

3. I learned to knit in a bar
TRUE - my friend Carrie's SnB group met in a pub and she invited me to join them. After 2 or 3 amaretto sours, she taught me to knit off the needle. Prior to that I could cast on like nobody's business!

4. I was born in Miami, but feel more at home in a small city/ town
TRUE!! - I despise Miami. More than any other place I have been. I don't get the appeal to vacation there or to visit. I struggle with my yearly visits to see my entire family, who all still live there. I currently live in Chapel Hill, NC which is about 25-30 miles west of Raleigh. I have lived in Gainesville, FL (another small college town) where the biggest cities (Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa) were all 2 hours away.

2009-06-21T11:41:00.001-04:00

Testing mobile posting

Week #1: New to Camp!

2009-06-17T21:43:00.013-04:00

Part 1: "What's in your trunk?"

Astrid is bringing...
apples
art supplies
ant spray
atomic fire balls
aspirin
antibiotic ointment
Alice in Wonderland (the book)
animal crackers
alpaca yarn
apple jacks cereal

Part 2: WINGO! Wizard Bingo
I am an overachiever and went for a full black-out.. or at least I'm trying to do so. Some of these are hard to find!

W1 Cassandra Crimsonchin (over 100, but closest at about 260miles)
W2 Bevin Rae Mooney
W3 Thistle Lovegood (lion)
W4 Pren Wilcox
W5 Ophelia Ballycastle

I1 Felly Pinkstone
I2 Ferula Vector (2 sibs)
I3 Antonio de la Weasley (Casa Lomo)
I4 Rowan Dragonsinger
I5 Cassandra Grubbly-Plank

N1 Madame Ferula McGonogall (Starbucks!)
N2 Helga Ze Horrid
N3 Piper Poplartree
N4 Gryphon the Great (Trumpet)
N5 Emma Wigworthy (Edinburgh)

G1 Clara Clovenhoof
G2 Olive Bumblebirch (favorites: 425/ I have 331)
G3 Fleur Sweeting
G4 Intarsia Bindoff (Dragon)
G5 Wisteria Lovegood (Arabic)

O1 Lizzie Wychwood (England)
O2 Cassie Grubbly-Plank
O3 Winnie Wartbobble (stitch markers)
O4 Emma Scamander
O5 Bevin Rae Mooney

Part 3: Get to know your Spoiler & Spoilee
My spoiler is Felly Pinkstone (dreamwalker on Ravelry). She's got some cool stuff in her queue/ favorites. I really dig these socks, the Mirabella Socks, and even added them to my favorites!

Perhaps one day I will finish a pair of socks completely. I ususally finish one, cast on for the other, then start on a new project.

My spoilee is Winnie Wartbobble (MissWartbobble on Ravelry) and there are quite a few projects in her queue/ favorites that I have in mine. My favorite non-duplicated project is the Doctor Who scarf. My fiance has been asking for one for ages! I don't have the patience to knit knit knit knit.. and knit some more for it.. plus, he doesn't wear scarves! I am thinking that he's getting a Dalek instead..

HSKS8 Camp: First Post!

2009-06-17T10:33:00.007-04:00

the ring post was just for a general update, now on to the good stuff!

Summer camp has begun in HSKS-land and I'm in cabin Hinkypunk!

For my spoiler, I only knit and sew; I am not a crocheter; I am not allergic to anything fiber-y, just mangoes; my wish list has just been added to my sidebar.

For my spoilee, I can't wait! Even though it terrifies me to send to the Head Mistress.. hehe

Three Truths and a Lie
1. I tried watching LOST but don't get the appeal
2. I am getting married in Las Vegas... eventually
3. I learned to knit in a bar
4. I was born in Miami, but feel more at home in a small city/ town

we can haz wedding rings

2009-06-17T10:28:00.002-04:00

so yes, needless to say, we have our wedding rings! both are titanium with a stripe of sterling. mine is a tension ring with a mystic twilight topaz... it is the coolest stone with pinks, yellows, oranges and reds!

wedding riiiings!

2009-03-16T22:35:00.003-04:00

yeah... i'm pretty sure i just found our wedding bands. gotta show Steve tonight. the guy said that a set takes 1 week to make then ship and i can get any color stone i want.

i'm thinking deep sapphire-blue color, or maybe green, or a yellowy-orange topaz... oh hell, i haven't the slightest clue! i know i don't want a diamond though, so that's a start.

blah

2009-02-27T23:07:00.006-05:00

i have got to post more. the problem is that i am swamped as all get-out between work and school. this week at work, i'd worked 34 hours before i'd even clocked in on thursday. we had 6 meetings including an 8am and 7:30am one, plus 2 9pm nights. needless to say, not much studying was done. and i have 2 midterms this upcoming week.

plus dealing with wedding planning stuff. we've been talking a lot about chucking it all and going to Vegas. more likely then not, we will be doing that and having a big party in Miami a few months later.

Her name was Lola... she was a show girl!

2009-02-03T22:14:00.006-05:00

Steve and I got her just shy of 2 weeks ago. She's a Miniature Pinscher, but don't tell her that she's tiny! She barks and growls at all the dogs in the neighborhood that are about 10-15 times her size! She only weighs 3.5lbs, but man, she sure is a great watchdog. It's awesome.

Phoenix, our cat, wasn't too pleased when she first came home, but now he's used to her. He watches her like the best live action TV show. He sits on the bottom step and watches her race all over the living room and kitchen. He's finally used to her enough to sit on the couch with her... and me in the middle!

update

2009-01-21T22:44:00.002-05:00

i'm still alive.. but with school and work and life in general taking over i have no time to knit. yeah yeah boo hoo. hehe.

this is the latest thing that i've been working on... a baby blanket for my cousin's new baby.

Rav link

Quiz #1 - HLBOE Swap

2009-01-10T19:05:00.002-05:00

Here we go for our first quiz of the swap. it's also posted on my Ravelry

Cheers everyone!!
Astrid, Hufflepuff 1st year

Start of term!

2009-01-04T23:09:00.006-05:00

Astrid Cloverleaf here, Hufflepuff 1st year in the Hogwarts Little Bit of Everything swap. the semester has begun at Hogwarts, and this friday, my 4th to last semester of MBA classes begins in the muggle world.

This is going to be a very full year for me! Not only this swap which seems like it's going to be a very active knitting few months, but also 3 semesters of muggle MBA classes, and planning my wedding to take place on November 29, 2009!

ME! (this is not my actual wedding gown in the off chance that my fiance finds this blog..)

my beloved car... violated

2008-11-29T14:23:00.007-05:00

my neck's been hurting for the last few days so i took some Tylenol PM before bed and was zonked out by midnight.

this morning Steve got up to leave for work by about 9:20am. i heard him shut the door then come back in a few minutes later and he yelled up the stairs "Becca wake up and come outside!" somewhere in my drowsy state i thought.. oooh snow. yeah, not so much since his next words were "your car was broken into last night!"

i bolted out of bed, ran downstairs, managed to grab a jacket along the way and outside cursing up a storm. socked feet, no bra and all. yeah, it was special. there was a big muddy brick in my passenger seat, my window was blown out and glass was just everywhere. it looks like they'd attempted to go through my front windshield too since there's a nice 10-12" spider (only with about 20 legs heh) right below my rearview mirror.

i ran back in to grab my phone and call the cops. by the time i came back outside our neighbor and her dog had appeared and a few others. our neighbor said that around 1:30am her dog bolted downstairs barking like crazy, so we think that's when it happened. i reported what happened, gave my address and hung up. after running inside to super fast get dressed, grab my camera and run back out the police were pulling up. yeah, seriously, less then 10 minutes. CHPD rocks.

Officer Mitchell took down all my info, write up a report and gave me the number. seriously within about 35 minutes of Steve finding it, i had a report number in had.

Steve started cleaning up all the glass. for 1 window, it sure shot everywhere. we found glass behind the 2 rear seats, on the passenger side by the door, everywhere.. he swept up the parking lot, then went at the car seat by seat. i called my insurance company (Geico) who won't cover the cost until i meet my deductible but they gave me the number for a glass place to see how much it'd be. so i called Safelite Glass and got a quote. umm yeah, $415.90++ and my deductible? $500. *sigh*

then i called my renter's insurance (USAA) to see if they covered what was stolen - my GPS, cell charger and triple cigarette adapter - and they're sending out an adjuster monday or tuesday. they said they'd have covered the window but unfortunately i don't have my auto policy with them. grr, yeah thanks.

meanwhile, i called around to find other prices for the 2 windows and was quoted well over $500 by the only other place i could find to answer. i guess Safelite really is the best price. *sigh*

i'm so mad and annoyed and violated. seriously, i'm more pissed about the car charger then anything else missing.. and of course the $425++ price tag!!

oh yeah and.. i'd spent $275 yesterday getting new brakes, fixing her alignment, etc.. and now this. Steve already told me i don't have to worry about getting him anything for Christmas. cuz $700++ for my car is enough to ruin any holiday season. good thing i have the yarn for everything i'm making for everyone...

My package arrived!

2008-11-22T12:50:00.005-05:00

Owl post arrived this afternoon all the way from Tennessee. Agatha Vablatsky sent me a wonderful package and I'm definitely nominating her for Best Kit!

first the box all nice and packaged with a note on top.

all my goodies laid out!

Phoenix decided to take a sniff around to see what I was getting.

the book of patterns! it contained Minerva's Lucky Quidditch Socks (which have been in my Rav-queue for ages!), Go Gryffindor socks, and Minerva's Argyle Socks

the fantastic red and black stitch markers, Harmony 47" 2mm, Bodycology lotion in vanilla buttercream (perfect size for my knitting bag!) and a really cute Cats mini-calendar

the best part! haha... my favorite snacks cuz Agatha is AWEsome! Craisins, Sour Patch kids, Mint mojito Orbit gum and white chocolate Lindor numminess.

a close-up of the stitch markers - did you make these, Agatha??

the wonderful yarn goodies: the bag and scarf were crafted while Agatha was on the plane to and from her honeymoon... talk about good luck! and of course KP Essentials yarn in Gryffindor colors.

a close up of the scarf.. i want to learn to crochet now!

thank you so much for everything Agatha! i love love love it! the bag is the perfect size for small knitting projects to take to work with me. and now that it's freezing here in NC, i'll be making very good use of the scarf.

Last Quiz of the Semester!

2008-11-13T20:07:00.003-05:00

Here it is... we're down to the last quiz of the semester. And my kit is done and all ready to get mailed out tomorrow morning to Ceciley. It's got lots of little bits of everything and hopefully she loves everything!

1. Who was Tom Riddle Sr.'s girlfriend before Merope gave him the love potion?
a. Eleanor
b. Cecilia
c. Sally
d. Mandy

2. What does Luna say floated into Harry's ear when he was in the train car that supposedly caused him to lose focus?
a. Demiguise
b. Jobberknoll
c. Wrackspurt
d. Runespoor

3. How much do the primary Apparition lessons cost?
a. 10 galleons
b. 8 galleons
c. 15 galleons
d. 12 galleons

4. What is Professor Merrythought's first name?
a. Eileen
b. Galatea
c. Carol
d. Jocelyn

5. What Hogwarts club was Eileen Prince captain of?
a. Charms Club
b. Gobstones Club
c. The Slug Club
d. Occlumency Club

6. Who is head of the Goblin Liaison office?
a. Ambrosius Flume
b. Dirk Cresswell
c. Ciceron Harkiss
d. Barnabas Cuffe

7. Mrs. Weasley offers Fleur a goblin-made tiara for the wedding with Bill. What family member is currently in possession of the tiara?
a. Aunt Muriel
b. Aunt Ethel
c. Aunt Edna
d. Aunt Thelma

8. How many points does Snape take from Gryffindor for Harry's late arrival and muggle attire?
a. 30
b. 70
c. 50
d. 90

9. When Profressory Slughorn first meets Hermione, he asks her whether she is related to Hector Dagworth-Granger. What society did Dgworth-Granger found?
a. The Most Extraordinary Society of Charms
b. The Most Extraordinary Society of Herbology
c. The Most Extraordinary Society of the Defense Against the Dark Arts
d. The Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers

10. Which of these describes Golpalott's Third Law?
a. The antidote for blended poison will be equal to less than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components
b. The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to less than the product of the antidotes for each of the separate compenents
c. The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the product of the antidotes for each of the separate compenents
d. The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separtea components

Swap Box Done!

2008-11-10T21:38:00.002-05:00

So i finished my swap kit - finally! - for Ceciley. The problem is that now my lazy butt needs to wrap everything up and get to the post office. I sure wish they were open tomorrow. It's some sort of muggle holiday. It's also the 19th anniversary of my bat mitzvah. um, wow.. that means I'm old.

I'm not the best knitter, or the fastest, so I made 2 small things for Ceci. I really hope she likes them.. and all the tons of other things in her swap box! I haven't got a clue where my darn camera is.. and even less of a clue where the battery charger is....

I need to have my kitty Phoenix go round up some owls to carry the heavy box over to the Slytherin tower (in Tennessee) for Ceci...

HSKS6 Gryffindor Homework

2008-11-02T00:36:00.002-04:00

Homework time! Looks like this week we've got an essay to complete. Well here goes...

1. Name your favorite magical creature, and describe why it is your favorite.
House elves.. well, more specifically Dobby. I adore how loyal and wonderful he is to Harry even though he belonged to the icky Malfoy family. He knew that Harry was good and the Malfoy's were bad from the beginning and kept trying to save Harry's life... even if he did get him into loads of trouble at home and school!

2. Tell us your favorite charm, spell or curse, and explain why you like it.
Lumos, because I just don't like walking around in the dark! I like to keep my wand around all the time and be able to turn a light on in an instant.

And of course, Muffiato, since I am a bit of a gossip (a yenta) and this way no one will overhear my friends and I.

3. Describe your favorite holiday family tradition - which holiday and what makes it special.
For Halloween, I always carve 2 or 3 pumpkins and then roast the seeds. This year I made a "standard" pumpkin face and a Jack pumpkin face (from The Nightmare Before Christmas). Jack was a huge hit with all my neighbors.

For Christmas, since I am Jewish, I have been celebrating it with my best friend and her family since 1993. I stay with them for about a week and on Christmas Eve, she and I wrap all the gifts and assemble whatever needs assembling for her little boys. And then we have gift opening around 7am at her house with breakfast and a second round at about 3pm at her parents house with an early dinner.

4. Name your favorite fiber-based (knitted, crocheted, or spun) finished object.
I call it my Flower Power hat in Ravelry, but it never received its' flower. I would wear this baby everywhere if I could. It's fairly open weave and made of yummy Malabrigo and for real, THE softest item I own. Plus it's a really simple and fast pattern.

HSKS6 Gryffindor Homework!

2008-10-23T22:22:00.003-04:00

Homework time again! This time we had to decode a cipher. I admit that I needed a slight push in the right direction to solve this one, but got it shortly after. We were watching a crazy muggle movie, The Forbidden Kingdom, while I typed out the answer. The good thing is that I could predict some of the words after getting just a few letters.

The clue: "OFXMWPOZCP DLJD APZAWP QTYO TE QLC PLDTPC EZ QZCRTGP ZESPCD QZC MPTYR HCZYR ESL MPTYR CTRSE."

SPCXTZYP RCLYRPC

And my answer: “Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong tha[n] being right”

Hermione Granger

Bonus 1: Who became scarred and developed a taste for raw meat in Chapter 29 of HBP?
Bill Weasley began craving raw meat after Fenrir Greyback bit him. The bastard werewolf! At least now he can eat prime rib the way it should be cooked.. nice and rare.

Bonus 2: Who developed an antidote for a birthday present in Chapter 18 of HBP?
Technically it wasn't a birthday present. Ron was opening his birthday gifts in the dorm room when the Christmas gift Romilda Vane gave Harry fell into the pile. Ron thought they were his and ate a few not realizing they were spiked with love potion! Professor Slughorn gives Ron the antidote, then poisons him with the mead meant for Dumbledore! Luckily, Harry remembered the trick about the bezoar being a magical cure-all.

It's Quidditch Time again!

2008-10-17T19:08:00.001-04:00

1. What animal does the portrait in the Muggle Prime Minster’s office resemble?
a. Rat
b. Frog
c. Cat
d. Lion

2. What drink does Romilda Vane try to give Harry?
a. Gillywater
b. Butterbeer
c. Pumpkin Juice
d. Elf-Made Wine

3. What is the name of the person who heads the Holyhead Harpies?
a. Gwenog Smith
b. Gwenog Jones
c. Glen Jones
d. Glen Smith

4. How many ‘Exceeds Expectation’ grades does Harry receive in his O.W.L’s?
a. 6
b. 3
c. 5
d. 4

5. What is Professor Sughorn’s favorite candy?
a. Cockroach Clusters
b. Sherbet Lemon
c. Acid Pops
d. Crystallized Pineapple

6. What tattoo is Harry reported to have on his chest?
a. Mermaid
b. Blast Ended Skrewt
c. Hippogriff
d. Unicorn

7. What color robes do the staff at the Weasley’s shop wear?
a. Buttercup
b. Magenta
c. Royal Blue
d. Aqua

8. What is the man outside Flourish and Blotts selling?
a. Amulets
b. Cloaks
c. Wands
d. Hats

9. How much is the skull, which Hermione enquires about at Borgin and Burkes, worth?
a. 9 Galleons
b. 18 Galleons
c. 16 Galleons
d. 12 Galleons

10. What are Professor Slughorn’s initials?
a. H.F.G.
b. H.E.F.
c. H.A.L.
d. H.K.D.

howdy pardner!

2008-10-14T07:22:00.001-04:00

hey, just getting into the lingo for our staff retreat. yup, that'd be to a dude ranch. however, 1 thing i failed to grasp is the lack of internet or even phone access! *cringe* no contact with the outside world for nearly 3 days... no talking to Steve at least once a day. no quick 2 minutes email checks on my phone. it's a scary prospect to be disconnected for that long. well, for me at least.

on the flip side, it's going to be the 23 full time staffers enjoying the outdoors. and each others company, for nearly 3 full days. there will be horseback riding (though, not for me!) and fishing and camp fires and s'mores and karaoke and steak dinners and beer and wine and and and... :o) i'll be fishing with Patsy and a few others while the rest of the staffers go horseback riding. no way am i getting on a horse! pretty to look at and pet and feed, but no thank you.

no internet, but i'm still SODAMN excited!

More homework!

2008-10-09T19:37:00.005-04:00

What a fun homework assignment! I love word scramble's and crosswords. Yay! So here we go, my next homework assignment for HSKS6...

1. At what are Hogwarts students allowed to swear loudly if venomous tentacula attempts to strangle them?
2. An animal form protector charm is a patronus.
3. Who is the potions master in HBP? Horace Slughorn
4. What is Aragog? An acromantula
5. Who is imperiused and cursed by a necklace in HBP? Katie Bell
6. What does Harry destroy in HBP? horcruxes
7. Draught of living death is comprised of ? wormwood, asphodel, valerian roots, and a single Sopophorous Bean (crushed with the flat side of a silver dagger
8. What potion can reverse the draught of living death? Wiggenweld

And of course I took advantage of the bonus question...
Who is R. A. B.? Presumably, it is Regulus A Black, Sirius' younger brother and a known death eater. He loaned Kreacher to Voldie to place the locket horcrux. and later removed the horcrux and replaced it with a fake locket.

Hogsmeade Trip!

2008-10-05T19:22:00.003-04:00

So this weekend was the 1st Hogsmeade trip of the semester! I ran into Honeydukes for some yummy treats for myself. My favorites are definitely Droobles Best Blowing Gum since I loooove gum! Afterthat, I wandered in an out of the stores buying some more parchment, quills, and of course some ice cream at

I sat in the Three Broomsticks drinking butterbeer and knitting with Hermione Granger. I thought I'd get started on some Christmas gifts and she came over to sit with me when she saw I was knitting. she was working on some projects for S.P.E.W. We had a great time! She is such a sweetheart.

I ended the day by wandering back up to Hogwarts for an early dinner and then homework in the Gryffindor common room. What a great weekend!

new ink!

2008-10-02T23:24:00.002-04:00

I went to dinner with a friend and her hubby tonight. Our plan was to get food, then go get our tattoo designs priced to come back on Saturday to get inked. Well, the plan changed about 5 minutes after pricing them... we decided to stay and get inked! Yup, below are some pictures in the progression of my newest inking. It's my 5th and I just love it.

Gryffindor Quiz #1

2008-09-29T23:02:00.002-04:00

Am I the first???

What yarn shop did Henry Longstaff shop at for yarn?
Mrs Mac's

Who is the HSKS6 SPEW coordinator?
Clidonia Acromantula

Which Gryff student just returned from London?
Lady Felula the Forgetful

Which Gryffindor has cats named after the muggle rock band, The Ramones?
Dagmara Grindelwald

What is your favorite childhood television program (Magic or Muggle)?
Smurfs or Fraggle Rock

What is your favorite adult television program (Magic or Muggle)?
Lost or Heroes

Which travel destination did you last visit?
Pittsburgh, PA to visit one of my best friends and her brand new fiance

What was your last finished object (FO)?
ummmm... toddler socks - the blue ones on my Ravelry (msrib) projects list

How many project(s) planned for holiday gifts? How many do you expect to actually finish and give?
far too many, but i have 1 and a half done already.. dunno if my best friend will get her stuff on time or late like last year

Who is the mother of Half Blood Prince?
Eileen Prince

Which Weasley became engaged in Book 6 (Half Blood Prince)?
Bill to Fleur

What is the result of a Sectumsempra curse?
Cuts the target like with a sword

Who used a Bezoar to reverse poisoning?
Harry when Ron drank poisoned mead

Muggle Marriages

2008-09-29T21:22:00.005-04:00

The muggle side of me is getting married. We don't have a date yet, but there's so much to do that there's plenty of time. Plus, we're moving into our 1st place together in a few weeks. Yippee!

I'm heavily leaning towards an Asian theme with orchids in the bouquets, lucky bamboo favors, Japanese lanterns twinkling around the yard (my parents), and possibly parasols for the ceremony during the daylight to block the Miami sun. My dress has been purchased (scroll down a bit to see it) and my girls and I are looking into a few choices for their dresses. *gasp* they get to choose!

In other news, I received 2 badges in HSKS6! And I've been buying all sorts of fun gifts for my spoilee, Ceciley Fortescue, and just have to come up with/ decide upon a super cool pattern to knit for her.

Phoenix

2008-09-27T11:44:00.002-04:00

My kitty is a big help with my homework and knitting. He loves to grab the yarn in his paws and curl up on the balls of yarn in my stash. Too bad he's not so hot with arithmancy and charms and potions though.

Time for Quidditch! round 1

2008-09-24T11:09:00.001-04:00

It's Quidditch time over at HSKS6.. Here's my quiz answers and a few pictures at the bottom.

1. At the beginning of the book, Cornelius Fudge is talking to the Muggle Prime Minister. Which member of the Order of the Phoenix has recently been found dead?
c. Emmeline Vance

2. What animal does Bellatrix Lestrange kill when she and her sister, Narcissa, are going to see Professor Snape?
b. Fox

3. What time does Professor Dumbledore collect Harry from Privet Drive?
b. 11 p.m.

4. What did Professor Sluhorn transform into when he was trying to hide from Harry and Professor Dumbledore?
a. An armchair

5. What grade did Harry get for Herbology?
a. E – Exceeds Expectation

6. Herbert Chorley, the Prime Minister’s Junior Minster, has been entertaining the public by impersonating which animal?
b. A duck

7. What is Professor Sprout’s first name?
d. Pomona

8. What is Dumbledore’s idea of ‘a few words’?
d. nitwit, oddment, blubber and tweak

9. Who is Marcus Belby’s famous uncle?
b. Damocles

10. What is Snape’s mother’s name?
b. Eileen Prince

Pictures
Post pictures to your blogs or link to the pictures from your blog post.

Narcissa

Snape

Bellatrix

Professor Sprout

Professor Dumbledore

Hogwarts School Photos

2008-09-22T00:45:00.005-04:00

It's picture day! *squee*

This is my most recent picture from Labor Day weekend. I was helping one of my friends with her wedding dress shopping. So of course, I had to try on tiara's and other fun stuff.

~Astrid

HSKS6 Questionnaire

2008-09-13T22:31:00.004-04:00

Potter Name: Astrid Cloverleaf
Rav ID: MsRIB
I am allergic to: mangos (bad allergy!)
Pets that I have: a big fat orange cat, Phoenix
My favorite yarn: hrmm.. Malabrigo and anything superwash. My latest obsession is sock yarn
If you are a Ravenclaw, do you prefer the film colors or the book colors? n/a, but if I were, I like the movie colors more
My favorite flavor: hrmm... gum: Orbit Mint Mojito, chocolate: light or whait (no dark!), perfume/ oil stuff: vanilla, food: sweet and sour (think sour patch kids)
My favorite holiday: Halloween
I would like to receive a: Sock kit
List your favorite brand of needles or hooks, including size and length: I prefer circ's of the 47" variety and just adore the KnitPicks nickel-plated. The only small sizes I'm missing is 0 (2.0mm) and 5 (3.75mm) - I have the interchangable cables already
Is there a brand that you are dying to try? KP Harmonies, but I'm certainly open to other brands...
I've participated in HSKS: never, I'm a 1st year! *squeeek*
Do you have a birthday during this swap? If so which day? yep.. September 16th (3 days from now!) and I'll be... older ;o)

2008-09-09T11:32:00.004-04:00

Hey guys!

Yep, I'm back and raring to go. It seems that this blog only gets touched when I have a swap or something going on in the knitting/ crafting world.

This time it's the Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap. I have been sorted into Gryffindor and my Hogwarts name is Astrid Cloverleaf. Go Go Gryffinfor! RAWRRR!

Yes, I am a dork.
and, of course, my new avatar:

does anyone read this blog? hehe

2008-04-16T14:32:00.000-04:00

I bought my wedding dress!

Pictures... you want pictures? in half the pictures i'm wearing a dress 2 sizes too big. then finally she found one in my size and that's the one i have currently hanging in my closet. click on the picture for a LOT more.. including close up of the dress detail and goofy pic's of Jen and I.

some FO's!

2008-01-27T00:44:00.002-05:00

yeah yeah.. it's been quite a while since i've updated. and here's some yummy projects to show!

this blanket i finished a few weeks ago. it's my best friends christmas gift and she saw it 2/3's of the was complete.. now i have to mail it to her. the final size is 36"x56". the one i make for myself will be longer and wider. hers were for her little boys. the pattern. (it's on the Lion Brand website and you might have to log in)

and this calorimetry i started last night and finished tonight... it's so cute and actually fits on my big fat head! i used a heart shaped button closure.. it's so adorable and a perfect fit in the hole created in the pattern.

and the rest of my stuff, if you have Ravelry, is on my projects page

squeeee

2007-12-11T10:50:00.000-05:00

this will really only mean something if you are a knitter and have a Ravelry account. my 1st ever felted bag is featured on a pattern page! Cartwheel Felted Bag

another purse done!

2007-10-27T22:44:00.001-04:00

Tonight I finished the bag I was making for the FFBE. My downstream should receive it sometime this week as I'm mailing it out tomorrow. She is getting a knitting fiction book, Knitting to go cards since her job makes her travel a lot, some candy and hot tea's, a jingle bell buddy with her name on it... and the bag of course!

And the beautiful bag...... is stuffed with paper to fill it out. It took quite a long time to make it and i learned how to felt on this one!

I really hope she likes it! I also updated it on my Ravelry Projects page. The next big project is the Jiffy Glowing Colors Afghan - one for myself and one for Jen... and maybe one for my parents too. =)

FL Birthday Trip

2007-10-16T21:18:00.000-04:00

it rained much of saturday. but we were able to get out on a boat tour in the afternoon (we saw a submarine from the naval base going out to sea!!) and a horse & buggy tour at night. and we walked all over downtown Fernandina Beach and shopped and had lunch (Brett's waterfront cafe place). we had dinner at a fabulous little restaurant (La Bodega) Saturday night.

today, we slept in, then drove down to the other end of the island and had lunch (The Surf) at this adorable little cafe with a really amazing waiter. he was a college kid but super attentive and talkative. he had no problems with us just hanging out basking in the sun. then we drove back up to Fernandina Beach to take pictures of all the houses from the horse tour last night since it was too dark. then Jen took Chanele and I to the airport to get the rental car, and she headed off to work. Chanele and i drove over to St. Augustine with a stop along the way to finally see the beach! we just stood on the walkway since the surf was pounding up and over the bottom few steps and took a bunch of pictures. i swear you'd never know we both grew up steps from the surf. i love the smell of salty ocean air! she and i walked up and down St. George St for a while until slowly all the shops were closed. Xine and her daughter drove over from Gainesville to pick up Chanele for the next leg of her trip. the 4 of us had dinner at Sonny's then they headed back there and i came to Jen's. since Chanele was leaving tonight and Jen has to take the kids to school in the morning, i would have been out there by myself. so i packed up too and am sleeping at Jen's tonight.

arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Ye Ole Pirate Shipe in the Fernandina Beach marina

Chanele and I on the Fernandina Beach pier

Fort Clinch - one of, if not the only forts to have never seen a single battle ever - northern tip of the island

the wild horses on Cumberland Island, north of Amelia island and the southernmost bit of Georgia land

this is a much better and clearer pic of the submarine we saw on the boat tour. it's not this close to us, i'm just on extreme optical and digital zoom to get this shot

Jen and I on the boat tour

me and one of the horse tour stars - Sarge! he was so gorgeous and kept nuzzling me

this one was at lunch this afternoon.... hey, i know i never tire of seeing pic's of myself.... ;o)

and one of me in St. Augustine/ Ponte Vedra beach

and another one of me in St. Augustine/ Ponte Vedra beach... you know, a different angle LOL

yup.. and me in St. Augustine walking along A1A/ beach front avenue!

*sigh* yes, i know i'm a cam whore...

FFBE Question #3

2007-10-10T10:22:00.000-04:00

I was just thinking over the weekend how far I've come as a knitter as I was sitting in the hotel room with my 2 best friends and watching Florida football and mindlessly knitting. I had been wanting to try for a long time, but could never get past the cast-on stage. Last December I was taught to knit in a bar by a friend that'd had a few drinks. I've tried my hand at scarves, bags, blankets, and now felting.

The bag for the Fall Felted Bag Exchange is turning out so gorgeous that I might just have to make one for myself!

How often do you change the purse or bag you're carrying? Do you change based on seasons? Outfits? Something else? What's your favorite bag in the world (and it doesn't have to be a knit/felted one!)?

I just recently bought a new, completely gorgeous bag. Some call it the Ugly Betty bag, but I simply call her Patches: the Bottomless Bag of Nothingness. I've had her for a few weeks and she goes everywhere with me. Big enough to hold everything... and then some! Plus, she matches just about everything I own...

Prior to Patches: BBN, I used Vera Bradley bags and changed them whenever the mood struck. Since they are extremely colorful and can match most things, they weren't outfit-specific or seasonal.

This just reminded me that I really need to take pictures and post them on eBay...

FFBE Question #2

2007-10-09T10:29:00.000-04:00

My bag is coming along beautifully! I just finished the body itself and now on to the straps and other parts..

And now for the contest...
The colors of fall tend to be oranges, yellows, crimsons, and other 'leafy' colors - what is your favorite "Color of Autumn" and where do you see it?

I love all autumn colors! It is my favorite season of the year. Growing up in South Florida, we didn't see leaves changing colors ever! I went to school in North Florida and finally was able to experience such natural wonders. Now that I live in North Carolina, I am constantly amazed by simple things such as driving out through the country roads and seeing the gorgeous reds, yellows and oranges on the trees. I just hope this heat wave breaks soon so it can properly feel like autumn!

about dang time!

2007-09-29T17:15:00.000-04:00

I'm finally on Ravelry... come find me! and friend me!

almost there...

2007-09-26T09:29:00.000-04:00

ahhh Ravelry, I'm almost there....!

Found you!

You signed up on July 18, 2007
You are #18387 on the list.
668 people are ahead of you in line.
17641 people are behind you in line.
49% of the list has been invited so far

erev-birthday celebration (yesterday)

2007-09-16T10:37:00.000-04:00

yesterday was fun. i went to the Centerfest Arts Festival in Downtown Durham with Irene, Akuma and baby Liam. we wandered around and ate (yummy festival food!) i bought a "picture" that was created as we waited. it's my name, in calligraphy and it looks like asian lettering. it is perfect for my bedroom! i got a custom-cut deep gold mat from them and got a plain black frame... it's gorgeous and looks fantastic with my new gold comforter.

i hit wally-mart afterwards and picked up a few crafty things for a swap i'm in - i made 3 sets of 5 stitch markers and then 1 additional for each lady. i group is a long black rippled bead with 1 teal bead and 1 silver butterfly. another group is tiny pink beads and 3 goldstones (brown with gold flecks). and the 3rd are all different - each had a big center stone of differing colors and smaller accent beads and silver butterflies. now to try to get pictures that come out since none have so far...!

c'est moi!

2007-08-26T22:33:00.001-04:00

in case you were curious... this is what i look like!

FFBE Contest Survey

2007-08-26T18:21:00.000-04:00

1. What is your favorite yarn for felting, and why? This is my 1st time doing some felting, so I'm not sure yet
2. Name one person in the swap who is not from the U.S. and tell us where they are from, and link to their blog. Chrissie P. is from Singapore - Ghostknitter
3. Find one person in the swap who has a dog, and let us know the name of their dog(s) and link to their blog. Kris W. has 2 dogs (Annie and Toby) - Knotty Knitty Kris Knits
4. Find one person in the swap who has a child or grandchild and link to their blog. Judy B. has not 1, but 19 grandchildren! - Judy's Crafts
5. And finally, tell us if you like October or November more, and why! (Yea, I know part of September and November are technically fall, but for this question, only October and November matter!) I love October because it has Halloween! and H'ween is one of my favorite holidays

bag me, baby!

2007-08-26T00:45:00.000-04:00

My bag was delivered last Monday but I didn't make it to the office to pick it up until Friday afternoon! Jane sent me a gorgeous bag.. black with purple and blue jeweltones!

I haven't used it yet as I haven't left my house, but it's all packed for work on Monday!!

Thank you Angel Jane!!

xoxo,
Becca

Fall Felted Bag Exchange Questionnaire

2007-08-23T13:13:00.000-04:00

How long have you been knitting or crocheting? How did you learn? or from whom? i learned how to knit last October from a friend of mine. we were at a knitting meeting and she taught me to finally cast off! and she was drunk, which made it that much funnier and easier to learn - save the few times she elbowed me in the head...
What was your first felted object, and why did you decide to try felting? i have not tried felting yet, but after participating in ITEIV and seeing all the gorgeous felts, i really want to give it a go
What are your favorite colors? Any you hate? love: pink, blue, green, yellow, orange. love combos: pink/green, orange/blue, pink brown.
What are your favorite styles\types of bags? (Long straps? Short handles? Handbags? Totes? Embellished? Plain? Include links to patterns or photos if you’d like – give your pal an idea of what you enjoy!) www.verabradley.com - i love bright colors! i prefer longer handles to short so i can put them on my shoulder and not constantly be pushing them back up. i like a lot of pockets - inside and out, and pretty embellishments are a bonus!
What handbag or bag are you carrying today? Do you use a separate bag to carry your knitting? I am currently switching between a few of my Vera Bradley bags. they're all very colorful and depending on my size needs depends what i use. i normally throw my knitting into the same bag i am using.
What other things do you enjoy knitting or crocheting? i've made a bunch of scarves for myself, friends and different exchanges. plus there's a few blankets on my needles that never seem to end!
What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? i love my bamboo straight needles! i bought some size 2 metal circ's for socks, but have not used them yet.
What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make? a sweater or some other tailored article of clothing
What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with? something expensive? lol i don't really have yarn envy
What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden? beading, mosaics, reading... and being an MBA student
Besides yarn, do you collect anything? i collect funky beads that will eventually be made into jewelry. also frog stuff, and Vera Bradley bags (hehe)
What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? Anything you hate or are allergic to? the only thing i am completely allergic to are mangoes. i don't eat sweets anymore, so that would kinda be a waste. the only snack-y food i eat now are dry roasted peanuts and almonds.
Do you have any kiddos? (Furry kind count!) i have kitties!
What kind of project best personifies you and why? i'm not completely sure.. i'm very creative overall but nothing tied to specific projects. i'm still learning new stitches so i guess something that allows me to do that.
What is your favorite part of Autumn? You can also share a special Autumn memory if you'd prefer! watching the leaves fall! and the weather becoming cooler and knowing that it could snow in just a few months.
Tell us 3 things you would do if you won 10 million dollars in the lottery. buy a house in the Outer Banks, NC; month-long caribbean cruise; not work and sit at home knitting and beading all day (which includes buying supplies!

i've got stuff...!

2007-08-18T23:16:00.000-04:00

I got my goodie box today from my ITEIV "angel" Cass! she sent me some awesome goodies... sock yarn, a knitting journal, herbal stuff (lotion, salt scrub, hand stuff), lip gloss, notes cards and mini dry erase boards! fun stuff!

Thank you Cass!! You were a great downstream partner (twice!) as well as a fantastic angel... Thanks!

I can't wait to see my bag now... =)

xoxo,
Becca

and in completely non-knitting news....

2007-08-17T23:37:00.000-04:00

First Term Attended: Fall 2005
Last Term Attended: Spring 2007
Status: Active
Matric Term: Fall 2005
Residence: In-State Resident
Student Type: Continuing
Class: Graduate

I AM A RESIDENT(according to ecu)!!!!!!!!!

my tuition just went from $4,344 per semester for 2 classes to $1,308 per semester for 2 classes.

my heart is racing so fast cuz i just started dancing around my apartment!!!

twitterpated

2007-08-10T15:05:00.000-04:00

yes, i just happen to like that word... it's also how i'm feeling right now. gah. the ITEIV swap isn't exactly going as planned since it's been over for a little over a week and i still don't have my bag. the one i made for Cass can't really compare to some of the others from the swap, but it was my first and turned out quite well, IMO. but meanwhile, i don't have one of my own yet :-(

i've been slacking on postings from Create-A-Connection too. i keep starring them in my reader, but never end up going back to them at home to post. yeppers... i suck!

things have been a little off recently in my personal life.
+ financial aid for this year took forever and a year to get resolved - yay for perseverance!
+ my textbooks arrived yesterday - miraculous since i ordered them on friday and expected to not even have them by start of term on the 22nd.
+ my health is deteriorating and i fear i may be pre-diabetic or at least hypoglycemic - not pretty things have been happening since tuesday at the gym.
+ work, however, is going good. my manager is quite complimentary the last week or so which is so nice (and unexpected from her reputation)!

woohoo!

2007-07-18T22:16:00.000-04:00

My bag found it's new owner today! Cass posted a bunch of pics on her blog. Yay! I'm so glad she likes it!!

i'm done!

2007-07-14T23:59:00.000-04:00

My ITEIV partner's bag is all packed into a boxful of goodies! Monday morning it's off to its new mama! I really hope she loves it and everything I'm sending to her...

This bag was so much fun to make and put together. I still haven't tried my hand at felting (that might be next!) or at sewing a lining into a bag (that scares me a little!), but one day I'll try both.

......................

front............................................................back

more swap goodness!

2007-07-04T18:53:00.000-04:00

I received my swap from the International Knitter/Crocheter Yarns-n-Stuff Exchange last Friday. Barb was my upstream and she sent me a box full of goodies! I got 4 balls of Sugar n Cream yarn in various colors along with a knitting book on making dishcloths. Plus some gummy worms, chocolate covered raisins and peanuts. I had some major hunger last night and ate the food stuffs already ;) so no pictures of those!

Next we have my bag from ITEIV, which is finally off my needles and sewn up! Right now I am working on the strap and sewing on the hardware. I am so happy with how pretty this bag is and I know my downstream partner is going to just love it!!

I am using silver loops for the strap and an antique copper buckle/ hook to close the purse. There isn't much of an overlap on the purse flap, but that's what the pattern called for. I guess we'll just see how it turns out when I'm done.

Swaps and such... progress

2007-06-21T18:44:00.000-04:00

As I just wrote on the ITEIV blog...

I've gotten so much work done being on vacation! I'm in Miami for a week visiting my family and have done so much on my bag. I am definitely going to have to buy more yarn to make myself a similar purse. I really hope my downstream loves this as much as I do!

And thanks to all for offering suggestions for lining. Once I finish, I'm going to try to find a similarly sized bag to use.

Lastly, here is an intentionally blurred progress picture...

And I mailed the scarf to Milly for the AMH Scarf Exchange earlier this week. I am so dang proud of how it turned out!

I really want to make myself one now.. LOL I learned a new stitch and it was super easy. I'm so pleased with myself! ;)

I also joined a new yarn swap and my downstream partner is Cass and now I get to try to find her some of the yarn she loves.. I've already started buying some stuff for her... now to just find that pesky yarn. ;)

I can't wait until 1 July so I can sign up for the stitch marker exchange! not that i really use them, but they're so darn adorable!

Home to me...

2007-06-15T08:20:00.000-04:00

It's Dialogue Friday over on Create A Connection!

Just what is Home to me? I use the word a lot when referring to my apartment or where I grew up. My parents are obviously home to me, but I don't live there. My apartment is definitely home to me, but I'm still putting down roots. So where is this elusive home place anyhow?

I'm going "home" to Florida tomorrow for a week. It's in quotes since it isn't truly my home. My home is now North Carolina and will never be Florida again. My parents are still in Miami, brothers in Miami and Hollywood, best friend in Jacksonville, tons of wonderful friends in Gainesville. But yet, I will never live in FL again if I have my choice. I have continually moved north ever since college and finally left FL altogether last year. Now to just get my parents to finalize their move to GA or NC and I will never have obligations to go to South FL again!

"Home" is where my family is. Where my heart is. Where my dogs are. Where I grew up and lived. But on that note, the home I grew up in no longer exists. My parents sold that house about 5 years ago. Now all I have of the "home" from my childhood and teenage years are pictures and memories.

For a month every summer for 8 years, home was summer camp in the Blue Ridge mountains of GA. It became home for 10 weeks the summer I was 19 also.

For 3 years, it was my own house in Gainesville during college. Gainesville always felt like home to me during my college years and again when I moved back there. I have a connection there with all the Gators, with the town, the university, the football stadium. ;-)

I am a nomad and have lived in many different apartments in Miami, Orlando and Gainesville and never for more then a year at a time.

I am 30 and it is finally time to put down roots. Last July I moved to NC and it was one of the scariest, most exhilarating things I have ever done. I knew no one up here. I had 1 friend and he lived 2+ hours away and I never saw him again after I moved here. Home is now where I live and go to school. Where my expanding circle of friends now live. Where I have made great friends, and experienced heartaches. Home is my adorable apartment that I re-signed a lease on. For the 1st time in my life, I will be staying in an apartment for more than 1 year. Also scary, also exhilerating, also very exciting.

Home to me is anywhere that people I love are. That's the bottom line. When my parents move, that will also be "home" for me.

Green Box o'Goodies

2007-06-14T23:32:00.001-04:00

Look at the lovely things I got from Katie via the CAC Color Swap!

She sent me fun fur yarn, a crochet needle, beads-lots-o-beads!, tea, chocolate! and twisty ties... oh how much fun I will have stringing up the beads and making a nice furry scarf with the yarn. The crochet hook might actually inspire me to learn to crochet!

Bloggity Blog Blog

2007-06-14T09:29:00.000-04:00

Today is Getting to Know You day over at Create A Connection... and the topic is blogs. I think I know a thing or 2 about blogging. So here are my answers

When did you begin your first blog and what inspired you to do so?
I needed an outlet and I type considerably faster then I write. and my mind goes considerably faster then I type... so my journals tend to be a big mess of thoughts. But getting them all out and able to get advice and encouragement was a phenomenal experience and I was hooked! I started my 1st online journal on OpenDiary about 7 years ago.

Do you have more than one blog? Why? How are they different?
I certainly do! I have my main journal on Livejournal which is where I talk about anything and everything and in great detail. I also post lots of pictures and vacation recaps and all sorts of stuff. That one is seriously friends-locked, and I don't just let anyone view it. Very private thoughts and relationship discussions.. Yes, I kiss and tell...... sometimes ;)

Also on LJ is my craft journal: ribart_designs. Periodically I will post updates to my Web site, etc. I don't normally post pieces there. I also have a weight loss journal on LJ, but I tend to just update my main journal with that info and just filter it to a few people.

I started my Blogger blog to be able to participate in the swaps and exchanges on here. I decided to use it mostly for my knitting projects and info about the exchanges I participate in.

I also have the standard MySpace and Yahoo 360 blogs, but I hardly ever write in those.

How would you characterize your blog? Creative, Political, Informational, Community-oriented, Something else?
Mostly creative, but not just tangible creativity.. I enjoy writing and putting a spin on things. Also, telling stories about my dates, etc have been a big success with my readers that love following the budding romances I've had over the years. I'd say I have a following that is very much like a family to me.

To paraphrase Oprah, what is "one thing you know for sure" about blogging?
There are some amazing people out there in blog-land just begging to be discovered and are full of creativity and similar experiences. I also know that the more you write, the less likely people will read and comment. It can certainly take over many hours in your days if you let it. OK, so that was 2 things...

Is it important to you to get feedback in terms of comments or pings? Why or why not?
It really depends what I am writing.. on LJ, if I write about my dates and uncertainties, I truly value the feedback and hope my friends will comment and give advice and encouragement. Pings, well, I don't care how many people visit my blogs in a day or week. As long as I am getting comments from friends, then I am happy!

What 3 blogs would you recommend to our readers and why?
Photoflavor - This is one of the feeds I have in my Google Reader and love the pictures this guy posts. They are gorgeous and a wide variety of subjects. I have saved a fair number of them to my hard drive for a slideshow screensaver.

I don't consistently read any public blogs. Most of the ones I read are my friends on Livejournal and keeping up with their lives. The link is here, but finding public posts, that aren't community posts, are somewhat rare.

If any of you have an LJ, I would love to friend you! Just comment here with your username and I will find and add you on there.

Blue swap goodness

2007-06-10T23:05:00.001-04:00

I had so much fun with this swap! Miss Amy is getting a boxful o'blue goodies! and the box is so damn pretty that I want to buy myself one. I will post the contents in a few days after she receives the box!

I bought a different patterned one for my ITEIV downstream pal to pack up her purse with some other goodies when I mail that out.

Exchanges

2007-06-05T11:23:00.000-04:00

What better way to make new friends - and crafty one at that - then by joining some exchanges!

I joined the Color Exchange over at JustBe... Connected

I am working on a gorgeous bag for my downstream pal over at ITEIV.

and I am working on a scarf for Milly from the AtMyHouse Yahoo! group.

Exciting stuff!

Laptop Case

2007-05-28T20:26:00.000-04:00

I created a laptop case for my Vaio. I needed something to keep it from being jostled so much in my messenger bag. I found a bunch of patterns online, but since I am terrible at reading patterns, I created my own. It is totally stockinette stitch and the flap was decreased a few stitches per row. I am very impressed with the way it turned out. I used Lion Brand Thick and Quick in Sky Blue, Pumpkin and Denim. The main body is Sky Blue, 3 rows in Pumpkin to pull the blues together, then the rest of the body and the flap in Denim. and the sides were sewn up with the Pumpkin. I even figured out buttonholes - holy shit, never again! - and sewed 3 buttons on to keep the flap shut. And just to add to the Gator-ness of it all, I put 2 Gator shaped buttons on there as well.

Nicky took the pictures during our drive to Harker's Island on Saturday. I haven't taken the actual FO pictures yet, but these are just amazing the way he took them. Considering he's barely 6 years old, you gotta agree! ;-)

Plus, the fact that it actually fits on Vaio and I only had to frog around the buttonholes... I should get major props LOL

oh my!

2007-04-15T23:14:00.001-04:00

i dunno when i laughed this hard...

And another blog...

2007-04-13T12:44:00.000-04:00

I most likely won't blog on here unless it becomes specifically for my crafts.

I have blogs on yahoo (daisygrl24), on myspace (msrib), and on livejournal (beekerzwhirled). LJ and MyS tend to be friends only posts.

Happy Friday y'all!