torture? yes, please!

as many have seen already...this is part two to my backpiece update. i was originally scheduled to see trevis nov 18th. due to a scheduling conflict, he called and asked if i would be willing to reschedule. how great was it to find out i would be going in a week sooner than expected!!! thanks to my friend bev (yes, she got another tattoo done by trevis. before my two hour torture session. haha! not really.) i was able to have a "action" shot of the process.





stats...

• 2 hours (cumulative totals in parantheses...4 hours 15 minutes)
• $200.00 work ($425.00)
• $30.00 tip ($60.00)
• 1 16oz iced vanilla latte from sacred grounds
• 1 trip to the facilities
• no break!
• cherry blossoms colored (pink, red, orange, purple, yellow, green, white)
• 40 miles traveled (80 miles)

the healing process for the blossoms was a little more intense. after all, color was applied over an area rather than simple outlining. but i remained faithful to my after care and i'm now healed and ready for the next session...just trying to dig $200 worth of change out of the couch! hehe.

a moment of confession

i hate to admit this...but knitting has not been a part of my life for the last 3 weeks or so...ack. i feel it necessary to change that...but have no motivation for any of my ufo or future planned projects. life has been a bit. well. hectic. those that know me know why...any encouragement for the disencouraged???

mai, don't hurt me!!!

mai will be so ticked to see me posting these pictures so late...i was going through my picassa and found some wonderful pictures from strange folk festival that i felt needed to be shared...no more words...just pictures for your viewing pleasure.

i love my sp9!

this is what awaited me at the post office today! a box...with a customs form and lotsa chinese characters stamped all over.

who from? well...my sp9! i couldn't wait to get home and tear into the package! after all...i wanted to take pics as i opened the package!






in the box? another box! ohmy...the thrill. the excitement. unbearable! must. open. second. box. if it weren't for picture taking...i would know what was in this thing already!





and inside box #2? a postcard. a teacup (notice lid and infuser.) a chop. and red ink. if you can't be so noisy as to zoom in to see what the post card says..."dear raquel, so here it is! package #1! i hope you enjoy it. a korean teacup and your name transcribed in korean on a chop complete with ink (the flat part is the top). i know neither of these is a knitting-related item, but i hope you enjoy them the same. :) you'll hear from me soon! sp9"

oh my excitement to receive these as my first secret pal goodies! those who have seen my home, know my dining room is asian inspired. so...when not in use filled with some exquisite tea or teasane...the teacup will be part time deco! the chop? well. how cool to have my name in another language?! i think it will make a great seal for my mail...ahem...mainly bills. these days it seems it's the only form of written communication i have with the outside world. everyone else is electronic correspondence of some sort...email. chat. text. phone. but with this...i feel the urge to write. to send letters. cards.

and of course...the chop in use produces this...a beautiful seal. had my secret pal not told me about the "flat part" i would have never guessed which way was right side up! thanks sp!!! you are the best! (and you seem to have a good grasp on my tastes!!! and i am not bothered that neither were non-knitting related!)

"do we get a treat for posing like this???"

my girls. doing what they do best. lounging. i was doing some chores around the house last night...and passed through the living room to get something from the office. i looked to my right. there they are. both with front legs stretched forward. heads down. innocent? hardly. don't they look like they've been up to no good???

the sock

the way overdue posting of sock #1...(ahem...mai...hope you're happy...what would i do without you though???)

it was at this point in the knitting that i once again needed the expertise of my stitch and bitch group...the first hurdle was to reorganize the stitches and to knit the heel flap. in the following pic, i've completed the heel flap and am mid gussett decrease.






a close up of the fugly mess of starting a four stitch pattern sock and deciding to change to a chevron in order to avoid all the back and forth of knitting/purling...as much as i don't like the ribbed cuff/chevron leg...it is a nice close up of the stitches.

an isolated close up of the chevron...it feels wonderful knitted up this way!

a close up of the gussett...i know many don't like the 3 stitch garter selvage...i personally think it's great! no holes!!!

and just like cooking show magic...here is another pic. an almost complete sock! yay! (and in reality...this sock is now completed and i'm working on sock #2!!!) both socks in completion will be posted if and when i finish the second sock. i'm super excited to wear them now that it's chilly...so, i'm not really feeling the SSS. but...life gets in the way of my knitting time. and i've had a ton of LIFE lately. knitting should be my solace...but i've turned to music and wine instead.