Photo editing extraordinaire

Just a little while ago, when I was supposed to be grading paragraphs, I was seeing what had been added at Rose-Kim Knits. She mentions a new free online photo editing site called Picnik. I've tried a few of these before, and most are s-l-o-o-o-o-w.

Once I loaded Picnik, I noticed the link to flickr. I clicked, I selected this dark photo. (TS forgot the flash.)

Look what Picnik : did in less than 30 seconds!


And this: to this:

I am very impressed. How about you?

Now I not only can thank Jessica for her entertaining, "Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?" but also for turning me on to Picnik.

A Little Knitting

I saw Pirates of the Caribbean, I don't care what the reviews said, I liked it. Went with TS and some of our friends, plus I had 3 hours of mindless knitting... What is not to like?


I finished the almost made to gift status scarf. This yarn Cashmere/Silk Melange from School Products, is fabulous. So.... it won't be a gift... I am keeping this little mistake stitch rib number for me.

I'll be ordering some more of this yarn though. At $10 a skein, it is a steal.

In baby sweater news, I have only sleeves to go.

Not so instant gratification

It is a good thing I started an IG baby sweater last week. It has been so busy around here that all progress ground to a stop, even on that quicky sweater. My niece is staying the week with me. She and my son are in the same grade, and attend the same school, but adding one extra person to the mix, especially during the first week of the summer semester has really put a dent in knitting time.

TS had to go to court to receive his "real" license yesterday. It is official; he can drive on the streets of VB.

I'm off to meetings all day, and as I am chairing them, I won't get any knitting done.

Tomorrow, tomorrow...

The Couch Jumpers

With several other bands, The Couch Jumpers played tonight at Club Relevant. The sound was excellent, and tonight was the first time they were not among the openers. They were the act right before the headliners. Very cool.

Thanks to Club Relevant staff; they worked hard to make sure each band's sound was just right, and they worked the lighting and fog machines so every band received professional treatment. At first I thought $10 was steep for a show aimed at teens, but these folks really worked hard for the young bands. Very nice.

bragging pics:
TS

New trombonist: Josh

Michael

Jason

TS again

band


And a good time was had by all... OK. The parents and less, shall we say avid fans, sat and stood along the walls. But we still thoroughly enjoyed the music.

Babies Everywhere

I am getting some IG knitting baby sweaters for three different future babies. After knitting Starlight, they are speedy quick.

My niece is pregnant, and due in August. My cousin Susanna is due in July, and so is my friend Carmen.

My plan is to make one yellow, one white, and one green. I'm playing with a sand stitch pattern. for the top, and plain reverse stockinette for the bottom. I started the yellow one tonight when I went to Ewe Knits for a little knitting time. I'm already at the underarms. I love knitting baby sweaters.

What to knit?

I am currently contemplating my next garment. (I noticed Wendy is choosing her next fun project.)

I have some Purled Llama silk that is calling me.

I see a shell... fairly simple to show off the hand dying. But I need to do math to determine whether or not I have enough. Grumperina does it well. I don't. I can see myself finished up to the armpits...and running out of yarn.

In the mean time, I am working up some felted items for a show later this year. More info. to come.

I've also started a scarf from School Products. I am using the middle yarn in the photo. It is fabulous yarn...silk and cashmere, and it's only $10 a skein. My very simple mistake stitch rib scarf is going to feel and look far more expensive.

Starlight

I finished Starlight. Check it out. It is my new favorite sweater. :)

First Destash Sales

I know posting twice in the same day makes me look as addicted to my blog as some teenagers are hooked on MySpace... not naming any names TS or Dancer Niece.

But I wanted this to post separately, instead of in the last one.

I sold my first two sets of yarn on Destash... I already feel the slimming effects. I had responses from the first day! Very cool.

So far, I have resisted buying more stash from Destash, but that is because I TOTALLY missed the Koigu. I really like the springy feel and stunning colors of this yarn.

To help keep my resistance, I've given myself a goal. At the end of this week, I'll post a little more of the stash I may never get to, and if I sell $200, I'm going to allow myself a little splurge. Fair, right?

I Finished Starlight

In case you didn't see the title, I finished Starlight!!! It looks and fits great. However, I can't seem to get a decent shot of it on me. I'd never make it on MYSPACE, would I? As soon as TS returns from school today, I'll recruit him to photograph me in this beauty.

Charm, in the same book as Starlight, is also calling me.

I have some yarn almost the same color... two pale green sweaters... I'm just not sure about that. But the color is incredible.

Neighbors with a View

I was just on MySpace... to find the dates of my son's next gig to email to a friend, and of course... I became distracted and looked at some of his friend's pages... and some of the photos they have. Ummm ... yes, I know I am supposed to finish up some grading.

I found this.


This is my tree... in the fall. The neighbor's son labeled it something like "beautiful tree...too bad it's not this color all year." ;) So I admire their spring dogwoods, and they admire my maple. cool trade, huh?

Why didn't you join us?

Hey Loretta the lurker, why didn't you join us and knit on Wed. night? ;) There you were buying beautiful Koigu, and heck, needles were certainly available. The Wed. knitting group at Ewe Knit Kits and Yarns are a lively bunch; you'd enjoy them.

I figured out buttons!

Are you impressed or what? It did take m-u-c-h fiddling about, but I did it.

I also posted on Destash. So, maybe my reduction plan will soon allow me off the yarn diet.

But... check out the Cashmere merino from School Products that was just listed there.... and Misti Alpaca listed further down. Temptations... I keep telling myself stay the course.


I am finished grading for today, more will arrive online tonight and tomorrow. The end is near... and the new beginning.... summer semester is also only a few weeks away.

For now, I'm going to bench press, and then I'll work on Starlight... I finished the sleeves! Time to put it together and finish the front bands.

Shout Out to Bill M

I work with many great people at TCC. One of them, Bill M., teaches computer classes. When TS wiped out my hard-drive, I emailed Bill to determine whether or not the info. could be saved.

He did it! I don't know how... though I must admit he tried to explain.

Bill also, kindly, reminded me to backup. So.... now I am, but I have tons of stuff on the disk, so it will take a while.