Sarah: Blah!

I've had a serious case of the blahs as of late. Note my lack of posting, and my general lackluster quality of life. But there are a few things of note: My friend J and I have been on an almost-no-money-spending trip, which has been very positive for my finances. Also, I'm totally psyched for my tax return. Straight into savings with you!
Speaking of J, there's a little story I'd like to tell:
J is studying fashion design, and I really think she'll do great. She's got a great eye, and is creative with an attention to detail. She spends way too much time on all of her projects, but they come out looking great. Anyway, she recently enlisted the help of our friend M for a project where she needed to come up with a color scheme from her surroundings. Or something. I'm not explaining this well. But the point is that M is an awesome photographer, and I went shooting with her (fun!) and her pictures came out awesome. She took these beautiful pictures of objects or places that I saw, but didn't realize their potential. Anyway, the result was a great project. My friends are so talented!
I have more to write, but it will be continued later...

Sarah: Strange Bedfellows

Since moving back home, I've felt a lot like I was back in high school. One chore that has been high on my mom's priority list is making my bed daily. This has always been important to her, and giving credit where credit is due, it makes things look a lot cleaner. Also, I love getting into bed when it's been made. The sheets are flat and cool, and it just feels cleaner. When I am running late to work and neglect my bed, however, my mom will tidy up my room for me, but leaves little surprises between my sheets to motivate me to pick up after myself. Among the sheet-dwellers have been: a plastic iguana, a poseable snake, a wind-up nun that spits fire (I'm lucky she didn't burn my bed!), and most recently my bobblehead Buttercup and miniature garden gnome (my mom told me later that they were DOING IT). Yesterday I came home on my lunch break to change after an unfortunate yogurt incident, only to discover my mother, standing in my room with a handful of plastic spiders. She's enjoying this way too much.

Sarah: It's never too early...

What could you get Sarah for a gift for her birthday, or just because you love her? Why, anything from this site, of course!

Or a digital camera for documenting crafts, or craft supplies. I have many ideas brewing...

Lisa: That joint is tieeeght!

As I pulled my knitting out of my tote bag the other day, one of my needles snapped right in half. The needles, which I ordered from elann along with my Ribby Cardi yarn, are US size 7 (4.5 mm) Swallow casein 12-inch single points. I love them. They are just the right length, and they are smooth and warm but not staticky. Elann is sold out of that size, of course, and I haven't seen them at any of the yarn stores in Salt Lake. It looks like it might be time to make a pilgrimage to the Needlepoint Joint in Ogden, which is supposedly like a knitter's Mecca or something. Check this space for more.

For the next entry in the saga of the Ribby Cardi, click here.

Update: I guess I should be glad my needle didn't EXPLODE, like this poor lady.

Sarah: Link Me Baby One More Time

So, do you find that your home looks barren, but you don't know what to decorate it with? You want your space to look personalized but not cheesy, sophisticated but not stodgy? Or maybe you're just looking for an interesting and original gift for a friend. These sites are great!

Sprout Home

Fly Bird

Both sites courtesy of Mighty Goods. Thanks Maggie, you enlighten us all.

Not to mention Modern Seed, which has fun stuff, even if you're not a parent...

Lisa: My mind is always in the cord gutter.

Since I haven't had any luck finding a separating zipper in the right length and color for my Ribby Cardi at local stores, I have been searching around online. I am a little wary of trying to match colors that way, but I finally found a site that sold clear zippers along with various other knitting supplies. Unfortunately, the site was in German, so I had to use Babel Fish to get a rough translation. However, I found it via a recommendation from another knitter's blog, so I felt OK about giving it a try. When I went back today to actually purchase the zipper, I was greeted with this (translated) message:

Hello dear cord gutters,
we decided to adjust our on-line Shop.
It was a beautiful time with you. Thank you for your confidence.
They reach us weriterhin under info@seasonstore.com

The search continues.

Update: I just ordered a zipper from Zipperstop. $1.80 for the zipper, and $5.40 to ship--sheesh! You'd think they could just stick it in a regular envelope and mail it for 37 cents. Anyway, we'll see if it works.

Update #2: The zipper from Zipperstop arrived this morning, and it is a terrible match. Argh! If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Lisa: Remodeling Project

I just made myself somewhat ill reading about plastic surgery online. Now you can too! I'm thinking it's lipo for me when the time comes. Pretty scary, though.

Lisa: feeling productive

I have reached a very important milestone (only ten years after my peers!): wearing eyeliner without looking like an idiot. I purchased a black self-sharpening eyeliner pencil yesterday, and this morning I applied it fairly competently, I think. We'll have to see if anyone notices my smashing new look.

In other news, I finished sewing my black denim skirt with the pleated sides and my luxe knitting needle case, and I got some plastic cubbies and organized my bathroom shelf. Pictures to follow!