leaves of bamboo

I decided to try my hand at knitted lace. This being my first foray, I went with knitty Branching Out. I'm using the purple bamboo that I got from my friend Hannah's shop: Windsor Button.

The knitting is amazing. It's definitely not something I can do without paying attention. But it's so magical to knit a jumble of k, ssk, k2tog, yo, and other stitches and then 10 rows later have a delicate pattern emerge.

In other news, classes start next week and the kitchen is far from finished. On Wednesday evenings I'll have 2 classes with a 1 hour break in between so I'll get a chance to use the lunchbox that my mom got me over the holidays. Unfortunately, it seems to only fit together right when the cold pack is between the 2 layers, which pretty much limits me to cold foods, which is not the most appealing on cold winter nights. Maybe I'll try to rig something up. My plan for this Wednesday night is wildrice and artichoke salad, and something else... maybe mixed greens salad and a protein, maybe green beans and carrots, maybe grapes, and maybe if I feel like it a chocolate soy pudding cup. The problem is that I'm not fond of very many cold protein options outside of nuts which can be a no-no food for me. We'll have to see how it goes.

Deq's hat finished

I ended up using Halfdome from Knitty for the decreases on the top and I worked downward from the provisional cast on for the ribbing. Hopefully it'll fit and he'll like it :)

On the needles...

This is a hat based on the arrrgyle chart from moth heaven. Instead of socks though, I'm making it into a hat for Deqlan. I'm planning to continue up past the chart in black on dpns, and sew down the seam in the back. The bottom is a provisional cast on that will get taken out and I'll knit ribbing from there down to get the arrrgyle pattern optimally placed on the front. This is my solution for just wanting to jump right in on the pattern before committing to it. I thought about knitting it in the round, but I'm really glad I decided against it. That's 20, count 'em, 20 separate bobbins of yarn to get the pattern. Once this is finished I'll feel like a super knitter. I'm just really glad that the pattern is mostly geometric :)

Primed and ready to paint

This is the dining room with the tinted primer on the walls and the ceiling already painted.

I think my camera hates blue. This picture doesn't really do it justice. It's sort of a zen periwinkle. Very calming. I can't wait to see the actual paint.

Here is the kitchen with the tinted primer up on the wall.

This is the second coat of primer since it goes up a little splotchy. I think I'll do one more coat of primer and then paint the real color.

Holiday Booty!