tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281620902024-03-07T12:00:40.446-06:00Astabeth KnitsThe knitting and spinning weblog of a mom, wife, teacher, college student, and ceramic / mixed media artist.Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-86394138439209652602009-12-14T18:36:00.001-06:002009-12-14T18:36:35.497-06:00I am definitely doing the Whole Brain Teaching thing next semester. <a href="http://bit.ly/UmQcs">http://bit.ly/UmQcs</a>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-26829267550205692252009-11-30T21:46:00.004-06:002009-11-30T22:06:35.912-06:00Handspun & HandknitWe went to Gatlinburg last weekend, and Lorelei got to try out her mittens & hat. I wanted to make her something out of handspun, and she chose a blue/gray combination of some Louet that I had spun and chain plied:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/3746565982_47e1dd8839.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/3746565982_47e1dd8839.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I still need to make some I-cord to keep the mittens together, but she loved them:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMCAiXy1VRfFJkfOahzyJv3MTWG3B8YciJduSIYu2vXI8f9Uun3sVwnYIcJmIWlpKZkEf8v8xE8oOrknpugus0wJc4aFmITlKj4_YvYafNUWcrb0bAb7TACVaL0DLT1NtlYOTKA/s1600/DSC_0152.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMCAiXy1VRfFJkfOahzyJv3MTWG3B8YciJduSIYu2vXI8f9Uun3sVwnYIcJmIWlpKZkEf8v8xE8oOrknpugus0wJc4aFmITlKj4_YvYafNUWcrb0bAb7TACVaL0DLT1NtlYOTKA/s400/DSC_0152.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410112456175108386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYXZHp5RSPae3L2e-KllKFHvK1fzsJuIJ5GW6VpCf7UKLPzzvNB_KUB9PzQr6I3lbIgJ-6B53VkqBfhnzGq72ajVjaKw0mMjcgFqJaJm-sC9RZW8vm6uTp9eaAaQokdBKIJSPyg/s1600/DSC_0174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYXZHp5RSPae3L2e-KllKFHvK1fzsJuIJ5GW6VpCf7UKLPzzvNB_KUB9PzQr6I3lbIgJ-6B53VkqBfhnzGq72ajVjaKw0mMjcgFqJaJm-sC9RZW8vm6uTp9eaAaQokdBKIJSPyg/s400/DSC_0174.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410113711809046674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbjOaqpo-DkPzwqDHMwJags_pqC74TRnlky-B_bcfKOo1s4lL50h-g0ZhwRC2NYUoAt2H27URTazdIKkMyhU1d0E3v1zqUeFK9Pl5-OgOpEanfLl_GogJZmQ8sIb7oexctpji_g/s1600/DSC_0372.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbjOaqpo-DkPzwqDHMwJags_pqC74TRnlky-B_bcfKOo1s4lL50h-g0ZhwRC2NYUoAt2H27URTazdIKkMyhU1d0E3v1zqUeFK9Pl5-OgOpEanfLl_GogJZmQ8sIb7oexctpji_g/s400/DSC_0372.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410114129531865042" /></a>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-20116458687266718062009-11-24T20:52:00.001-06:002009-11-24T20:52:43.340-06:00When I first started creating art, I wanted to change the world. Later, I realized I was changing the world. . . mine.Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-35256207597062364532009-11-22T19:40:00.001-06:002009-11-22T19:40:43.068-06:00Very cool - meditation & drawing all in one - anyone can do it: <a href="http://ping.fm/OjVZk">http://ping.fm/OjVZk</a>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-27020620156118214522009-11-21T10:11:00.002-06:002009-11-21T10:13:24.341-06:00New Blog!I have a new blog - not for knitting, but for teaching. I pulled some old posts that relate to the theme of the new blog, teaching art, and added them to it. <br /><br />I will be done with grad school in a few weeks, and I hope to get to update them both more frequently!<br /><br />The new blog is <a href="http://teachingartinalabama.blogspot.com">Teaching Art in Alabama</a>.Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-57451716831304759442009-08-03T21:34:00.003-05:002009-08-03T21:39:55.102-05:00This SummerThis summer went by entirely too fast! We spent a week at the beach and Miss Priss loved it - she is very much a beach bum. She had a pirate party for her birthday. It was a lot of fun. If anyone is taking kids to Panama City Beach, the Pirate Cruise was the best money we spent all week. We can't find enough good things to say about it.<br /><br />During July I participated in <a href="http://www.ravelry.com">Ravelry's</a> WIP Wrestlemania. For those who don't knit, a WIP is a work in progress. I have way too many, and I got about 12 of them completed during the month. I played on Team Tardis.<br /><br />I also painted a butterfly for Decatur's public art project, Arts Aflutter:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTl4jE4ur3nSols0P09WXx57mSbdDhXS7KqbGJn_1wsIbOjeuY2-f8mNmZ_5sL2v0ZOdD5IVXPLnVhFk6lMHfCSQYNm8QI10oxZ-xL1bRlMgQnLPzo2Cbk1cf9w0MfaLx4MhDJlw/s1600-h/Picture+13.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 347px; height: 361px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTl4jE4ur3nSols0P09WXx57mSbdDhXS7KqbGJn_1wsIbOjeuY2-f8mNmZ_5sL2v0ZOdD5IVXPLnVhFk6lMHfCSQYNm8QI10oxZ-xL1bRlMgQnLPzo2Cbk1cf9w0MfaLx4MhDJlw/s400/Picture+13.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365932484148613778" /></a><br />I am also painting a rain barrel for a similar project in Huntsville.<br /><br />That's all I have for now - I have been putting most blogg-ish stuff on Facebook, so my blog has been neglected!Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-53513994951250469352009-05-16T18:04:00.003-05:002009-05-16T22:02:43.640-05:00Plexiglass DrypointI am planning on spending 6 weeks with my Art II class on printmaking next year. I wanted to create an intaglio lesson plan - we have a small, seldom used press. I had heard of using plexiglass for engraving, but didn't know if it would work well with water-based ink. I did a little playing around to try it, and it will be fine for high schoolers. <br /><br />I've never done anything but collagraphs and relief printing, so this was new to me. I did a little doodle & some scribbles to see how it would work.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/astabeth/3536550583/" title="One by astabeth, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2062/3536550583_e0ea6aa296.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="One" /></a><br /><br />I added waterbased printing ink:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/astabeth/3537366886/" title="Two by astabeth, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/3537366886_ff6aac8b7a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Two" /></a><br /><br />and scraped it into the cracks with a piece of plastic (an old driver's license):<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/astabeth/3537367248/" title="three by astabeth, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2144/3537367248_e999d95893.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="three" /></a><br /><br />Then I wiped off all the excess ink with old phone book pages:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/astabeth/3536553243/" title="Four by astabeth, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3639/3536553243_045ac92c75.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Four" /></a><br /><br />My brand new press didn't work right, but I managed to get a semi-decent print - the only bad part is it's very light. Once I get my press fixed (or replaced) I will experiment a little more and see if I can get it darker. Maybe if I don't soak the paper. See how light it is?<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/astabeth/3537368058/" title="five by astabeth, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/3537368058_37b3f30d9c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="five" /></a><br /><br />It only bled in a couple of places, though. I should be able to tweak it to use in class.Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-17334049601051497222008-10-13T14:32:00.004-05:002008-10-13T15:03:03.776-05:00Uneven Spinning and Other ThingsI finally plied and skeined (is that a word?) my Finn wool. I have about 750 yards of what (on average) is around a DK / sport weight. I think it's enough for Miss Priss a sweater. A very "handmade" looking sweater.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0037.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0037.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div>The color is more accurate in my last post - the lighter blue areas are really a light blue-green. I am still on a learning curve with the woolie winder - this is so loosely plied it is going to be like knitting with two energized singles. I am learning. I thought about running the whole thing again to make it more balanced, but I am too short on time (lazy).</div><div><br /></div><div>Indiana was irritated that I wasn't out there to pet him.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0044.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0044.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div><br /></div><div>I am also making progress on Miss Priss' dress, but I don't think I'll have time to get it finished before the wedding this Saturday.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0048.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0048.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div>Ignore the poor composition of the above photo. My lunch was on the stove and I was in a hurry. I have divided for the armholes and started on the right back. I measured it on her and it seems like it will be fine, which is good because I couldn't find a yarn locally that I could get gauge with and still have a nice fabric. I have too much going on this week to expect to finish it. But I can hope.<br /><br /></div><div>I haven't done anything much for my sculpture class, and it's past midterm. In order to work on my sculpture, I have to have a space to work. In order to have a space to work, I have to clean up my sunroom/studio. My life is one of those sliding puzzles - you know, the ones that have four columns across and four rows down and the sixteen spaces are filled with fifteen little tiles that you are supposed to slide around until you have a picture. I have to go through lots of steps before I can complete anything, it seems. Here is a small portion of my sunroom:</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0032.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0032.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Scary, isn't it? I am only posting this because when I posted pictures of my sewing and weaving areas, my husband said, "that would be a lot more impressive if people knew what it looked like when you started." I like having clean places, but when facing deadlines and due dates, sometimes stuff gets spread out. And then it gets piled back in the room where it goes, but not put away (because that takes more time). I have to remember that if I would take the time to put things away, it would save me a lot of time later.<div><br /></div><div>Okay, back to work!<br /><br /></div>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-37714532318338508422008-09-25T20:57:00.005-05:002008-09-25T21:25:52.984-05:00Squeaking In TimeLook! Spinning!<br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0002.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I love my new woolee winder! I love my new woolee winder! I love my new woolee winder!<br /><br />As busy as I am, I have been squeaking in a little time to do some things I like. I am now teaching full time (I go to an elementary school in the mornings and finish up the day at a high school). That kind of eats into my lesson planning time and my working-on-grad-school-projects time, but I am learning to manage my time better. So I am making it. And Joe starts a new job in a week and a half, only a few blocks from the house! He will be working 8-4 M-F and 9-2 every other Sat., so it is a much nicer schedule than he had before. At his current job, he will have three nights next week where he will have to work until 11:30 pm in Huntsville. And we probably won't see him at all his last weekend there because they are having a big sale.<div><br /></div><div>So my job has changed some, Joe is changing jobs, and Miss Priss started a new school last week. She is going to the school where I teach in the mornings. She really seems to like it. They have already had a field trip to a wildlife center, and they will be learning to bowl in the gym next week, wrapping up the week with a trip to the local bowling alley. We finished this tonight, so it can hang in the hall with all the other kids' paper bodies:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0025.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div><br /></div><div>I am hoping to make her the Jane Austen dress from the new Mason-Dixon knitting book before a wedding we are going to in mid-October. I haven't gotten very far yet. I'm only halfway through the ruffle at the bottom of the bodice:</div><div><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0004.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div><div><br /></div><div>In other things, we are very excited that the guys from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers">Brotherhood 2.0</a> are going to be in Gadsden in November! We are SO there!</div><div><br /></div><div>And that's all the news that's fit to blog.</div></div>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-13994403831010208482008-08-24T17:38:00.005-05:002008-08-24T17:52:16.411-05:00Loose Ends<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/2793352573_4feb155d7e_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/2793352573_4feb155d7e_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; font-size:large;">Wrapping up some loose ends because this may be the last post for a while...</span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I hope not, but realistically, work and school and some outside obligations will probably prevent my posting for a while. I will if I can</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I participated in Ravelympics '08. I had to carve a little time away for myself, and this was a great excuse. I competed in the Handspun Heptathlon for Team Splurk, turning 4 oz. of merino from Smoky Mountain Spinnery into this: </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/2794257154_a4a6e0cccc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/2794257154_a4a6e0cccc.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div><br /></div><br />I also competed in the WIP Wrestling (for works-in-progress that you think you'll never finish) for Team Red Sox Nation. I finished Miss Priss' baby blanket (yes, I know she's five now). But she loves it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/2794411856_d4743e76a0_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/2794411856_d4743e76a0_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div><br />It took a really long time, especially since it was in garter stitch. She is so excited that it is finished!<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/2793359847_9bde009bdd.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/2793359847_9bde009bdd.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-28456877261737516572008-08-15T15:55:00.004-05:002008-08-15T16:16:58.071-05:00The Red Scarf ProjectWhat happens to a child in foster care when they are too old to stay in the foster care system?<div><br /></div><div>Many of them go to college. Can you imagine going to college as an eighteen-year-old and being totally alone? No parents or family to come home to, no one to guide you or help you if you stumble?</div><div><br /></div><div>This is where the Orphan Foundation of America comes in. Their website states:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(55, 100, 168); font-style: italic; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:24px;">OFA defines an orphan as any child who has lost the love of their parents through death, abandonment, abuse, or neglect.</span></div><div>In addition to scholarships, guidance, mentoring, and work training, the OFA sends out care packages to those teens who have "aged out" of the foster care system and are trying to make it in college. These packages are sent out three times a year. The Red Scarf Project is a project to make scarves (red ones) for the packages that are sent out for Valentine's Day.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you go to the <a href="http://orphan.org/index.php?id=40">OFA's Red Scarf Project page</a>, you can see lots of pictures of pround students showing off their scarves. I am working on one now. They don't <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">have</span> to be red, just unisex, because you don't know if a girl or a boy will get it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the info, straight from their site:</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Scarf Size: Approximately 60" long and 5" to 8" wide. Scarves should be long enough to be wrapped around the neck, with tails long enough to be tied in the front.<br /><br />Style: Think unisex collegiate. Ask yourself if your son, brother, and/or husband would enjoy receiving the scarf. Fringes are optional. Your scarf should drape and tie easily.<br /><br />Yarn: Preferably DK, double fingering-weight, worsted weight, or light bully yarns. No laceweight, super-chunky, or mohair yarns as there are many people who find mohair too itchy. The yarn should be soft.<br /><br />Color: Red! However, this could mean burgundy, cherry, russet, red stripes with other colors, or multicolor hues including red. Other unisex colors, including black, navy, teal, olive or gold are also welcome.<br /><br />Finished and tagged: Yarn ends should be securely sewn in. For a personal touch, attach a tag saying "Handmade for You" with your first name, city, and group affiliation, if any. Donors have also included washing instructions, messages of encouragement, gift cards, burger bucks, books of stamps, etc.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">Scarves will be accepted between Sept. 1, 2008 - Oct. 31, 2008. They need to be mailed to:</span></div><div>Orphan Foundation of America</div><div>The Red Scarf Project</div><div>21351 Gentry Drive</div><div>Sterling, VA 20166</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">Even if you don't knit or crochet, you can help. Spread the word! In fact, Scout of <a href="http://www.scoutsswag.com/">Scout's Swag</a> is having a contest. If you promote the Red Scarf Project on your blog, Ravelry, Flickr, etc. before Monday, she will enter you in a drawing for some lovely yarn and a $25.00 gift certificate to her store! Details <a href="http://www.scoutj.com/2008/08/15/red-scarf-contest-eye-candy-for-norma/">here</a>. And you don't have to knit/crochet/sew a stitch! But you should, you really should.</span></div>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-78230530343905047292008-08-09T20:29:00.003-05:002008-08-09T20:42:14.122-05:00School's In!School has started, and everything is going well so far. Scheduling is crazy, with one child close to the house but having frequent band practices, the other child all the way across town (Kindergarten!), and my school (work) somewhere off to the side. I will add my school (grad school classes) in a whole 'nother town on the 18th. I will go Monday and Tuesday nights, and all three classes should be easy & fun. They probably will not be as much work as the ones I have had the last three semesters.<div><br /></div><div>I have been participating in <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/ravelympics-2008">Ravelympics 2008</a>, on two teams. I am spinning 4 oz. of a lovely purple merino in the Handspun Heptathalon event, for Team Splurk (spinning + Plurk). I am also trying to finish Lorelei's log cabin blankie that I started . . . umm, five years ago. That is in the WIP Wrestling event, for Team Red Sox Nation. For those of you non-knitters, WIP stands for "work in progress." </div><div><br /></div><div>Also for those of you who don't know, <a href="http://www.plurk.com/">Plurk</a> is a great time-waster. It is like Twitter, only better. At least that's the consensus of what I have seen from people who use both. Of course, now that school has started I haven't had time to Plurk much.</div>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-27922219033791007142008-08-01T22:14:00.002-05:002008-08-01T22:22:15.470-05:00A ListI have a lot of things that I want or need to do, and I hope that by putting them in a visible form it will encourage me to spend more time doing these things and less time 'piddling' and doing things I am not as interested in. So, here goes:<div><br /></div><div>Need to:</div><div>organize sunroom</div><div>make that tabletwoven belt</div><div>Bagatelle stuff</div><div>go through the box of Miss Priss' schoolwork from the past year</div><div>go through all the "what on earth is in this box?" boxes</div><div>finish Nana's socks</div><div><br /></div><div>Want to:</div><div>do some dyeing of yarn</div><div>spinning</div><div>knit that Danish tie shawl</div><div>weave</div><div>organize yarn / fiber stash</div><div>cataloge WIPs</div><div>add pictures to ravelry projects</div><div>make new garb</div><div>finish my quilts</div><div>get into the pottery studio</div><div>finish test knitting sock pattern</div><div><br /></div><div>In my dreams:</div><div>post stash to ravelry</div><div>post knitting books to ravelry</div><div><br /></div><div>I will edit this post as I think of more...</div>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-61097262260468408382008-07-29T19:19:00.003-05:002008-07-29T19:34:32.486-05:00Motivation<div><a href="http://www.plurk.com/user/astabeth">Plurk</a> has motivated me to update my blog. I have finished another room, the second-worst in the house. I present to you the sewing room:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0637-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0637-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div>It's not really a room, but a section of the downstairs that is blocked off by my storage shelves and cubbies:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0642.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0642.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div>On the other side of the blue shelf and white cubbies (my cheap acrylic storage, decent yarn is on the other side and really good yarn is upstairs) is the TV area. Working around the room, you can see the rest of the shelving on that side (and the 'door') and my fabric storage (unspun fiber is on the other side).</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0636-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0636-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I am very happy with how it has turned out. I still have to organize my fabric and yarn, but it will do for now - the goal is for me not to be ashamed for someone else to see it, and here it is on my blog, so I need to work on other areas of the house next. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0640-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0640-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My sunroom is next. It is where I do my painting, jewelry making, and all other artwork except for knitting and ceramics. I will have to move some things around in the closets in my sewing room (if I haven't used what's in them in the past year, I probably can get rid of it) so I can move some things I don't use so much down from upstairs. Then I will have space to get things done. Right now I don't have space to move up there!</div><div><br /></div>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-70171929028596219912008-07-27T18:00:00.003-05:002008-07-27T18:22:51.120-05:00The Swing of ThingsWell, school is finally over for the summer and I have a week before I start teaching again (as long as everything goes as expected). I have spent all of my free time organizing, trying to make my house something that I'm not ashamed for other people to see. I started with the laundry room, which is also my closet. One of the perks of living in a 100+ year old house is very little closet space. Instead of ankle-deep in laundry (or deeper), like it used to be, it now looks like this:<div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0639.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0639.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></div><div>That is all of my dresses, suits, skirts, pants, and SCA clothes. No more dirty clothes on the floor! The washer and dryer are here:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0640.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0640.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></div><div>That is 'line dry' stuff on the small wheeled rack (I love it!), and everything else - tops, coats, sweaters, purses, shawls - is in the two closets and the small drawers below them.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0641.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0641.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></div><div>Spare linens are in the top cubbies.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have been able to keep the laundry room like this for about a month, so I hope it is permanent. What I am really excited about is this:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0633.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0633.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></div><div>It used to be the computer room (but now we use laptops and don't need the big desk, CD's, etc. I have been calling it the weaving room or weaving studio. Joe calls it (insert drumroll and in a deep voice, announce) "The Loom Room of Doom" - dum dum duuuuum. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0635.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0635.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div><br />He built the shelves for me:</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0636.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0636.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></div><div> and I have spent three days working on it and my sewing room (hopefully pics to come on that soon). I hope to post more later!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0637.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC_0637.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-86799284655141981392008-05-11T10:05:00.002-05:002008-05-11T10:08:14.029-05:00I Can't Believe It's Been So LongIt's been a long time since I've posted. I am done with grad school for a couple of weeks, and I will be done teaching for the summer in two weeks, and things are going well.<div><br /></div><div>On the knitting front, I have finished a pair of socks from some pink & lime yarn I got from the fiber festival in Murfreesboro a few weeks ago, and have started some socks in the Frootloops pattern from Knitty.com - but I will probably frog them as the yarn is too colorful for the stitch pattern.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope to update and post pictures soon!</div>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-38598055835416772612008-02-20T16:24:00.005-06:002008-02-20T16:36:42.136-06:00Clay Conference Pictures on HoldUntil Apple sends me my computer (which I have been trying to buy since Monday, Feb. 11), I can't show all of my Alabama Clay Conference photos. So I will show you what we found on our treasure hunt today. Miss Priss got a metal detector for Christmas. We took it out for its first real test today. You find a bunch of junk - but for all the foil candy wrappers, bottle caps, nails, and can tabs that you find...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6GLg_nR-WvEIFcCIdNFVBaqARB0p4QOYLN6YqDIeYPHeQtB9j70oc63VeYANkE9cKyM7ZKt9j5Y7mAJcDIA5oDPpeL6NnYZHiAvKULugbCEd7q8KH173ahioVRYg_AK_MI8waA/s1600-h/DSC03432.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6GLg_nR-WvEIFcCIdNFVBaqARB0p4QOYLN6YqDIeYPHeQtB9j70oc63VeYANkE9cKyM7ZKt9j5Y7mAJcDIA5oDPpeL6NnYZHiAvKULugbCEd7q8KH173ahioVRYg_AK_MI8waA/s400/DSC03432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169192773690207122" border="0" /></a>...occasionally you find real treasure!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiWrYgYJ4dZbBC0NEF2kcI301qBd_FKtK1dHO2Q8gKCp1mde10XKS92Ug76h88hUO5uVLk7qI2SyC8XY9JJHfFJxzFy34TKzR0v56QIet6Ihqg6kVprBx-N_rFsxdviPl6cRMfQ/s1600-h/DSC03435.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiWrYgYJ4dZbBC0NEF2kcI301qBd_FKtK1dHO2Q8gKCp1mde10XKS92Ug76h88hUO5uVLk7qI2SyC8XY9JJHfFJxzFy34TKzR0v56QIet6Ihqg6kVprBx-N_rFsxdviPl6cRMfQ/s400/DSC03435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169192533172038530" border="0" /></a>Yep, we came back a penny richer. But we didn't need the metal detector to find the real treasures:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTSL2H_091hm2SwUgV-2p0AELqp9KnCGamcnxiZCmjD5mpd8pjoSfYOj7qpmEwA-4arncF_vO9tDtYj3O1sY8kFtd1XXSeZiM7S_boZJqDMJNz5C4ho41dU5xVeQSuiQOIPRIYw/s1600-h/DSC03436.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTSL2H_091hm2SwUgV-2p0AELqp9KnCGamcnxiZCmjD5mpd8pjoSfYOj7qpmEwA-4arncF_vO9tDtYj3O1sY8kFtd1XXSeZiM7S_boZJqDMJNz5C4ho41dU5xVeQSuiQOIPRIYw/s400/DSC03436.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169192318423673714" border="0" /></a>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-29111221881162475282008-02-12T14:48:00.000-06:002008-02-12T14:50:03.402-06:00Update Coming Soon - I Hope!I went to the Alabama Clay Conference this weekend, saw some friends, and had a good time - I even got some knitting done! I hope to post soon, but it will probably be Monday - too many tests and babies due and inlaws coming and my apprentice and her whole family visiting, and our group's event... Yep, probably Monday.Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-33257243693100581722008-01-19T11:37:00.001-06:002008-01-19T11:37:30.917-06:00New Year's Break<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/astabeth/2204139268/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2004/2204139268_67ce64fc15_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/astabeth/2204139268/">DSC03405</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/astabeth/">astabeth</a> </span></div>I finally finished and turned in my Advanced Printmaking class (yay!), but it was on the first night I had new classes, so I have homework already. No rest for the weary. But I have a little room for procrastination, so I am updating my Ravelry stuff. Here is my first contribution:<br /><br /><b>Astabeth's Lush Scarf</b><br /><br />Yarn: Classic Elite's Lush - 50% Angora / 50% Wool, Aran weight, 2 skeins<br /><br />Gauge: Not critical; I got 18 stitches per inch in garter stitch<br /><br />Needles: US8 or whatever gives you appropriate gauge or drape<br /><br />Stitches: sk2p = slip one stitch, knit two together, pass the slipped stitch over<br /><br /><b>Directions</b><br /><br />Set-up:<br />Cast on 25 stitches. If you want it wider, add stitches in increments of 6.<br />Knit 7 rows for the garter stitch border.<br /><br />Pattern rows:<br /><br />Row 1 (wrong side) and all odd # rows: Knit 3, Purl to last 3 stitches, Knit 3<br /><br />Rows 2, 4, and 6: K4, *yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * to last 3 stitches, k3.<br /><br />Row 8: K5, *yo, sk2p, yo, k3; rep from *, last rep will end with k5.<br /><br />Row 10: K4, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * to last 3 stitches, k3.<br /><br />Row 12: K3, k2tog, *yo, k3, yo, sk2p; rep from * to last 8 stitches, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k3.<br /><br />Repeat these 12 rows until you are at the end of one skein, do not bind off. Cast on with the second skein and make another identical half. <br /><br />Finishing:<br />Weave the ends together - kitchener, three-needle bind-off, or your preferred method. Block gently.<br /><br />Sources: <br />Stitch pattern is "Spider Stitch" from Barbara Walker's <i>A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns</i>.<br clear="all" />Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-63656963327362379882007-10-22T22:39:00.000-05:002007-10-22T22:41:24.927-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">Just had to pipe up for a second to say<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">GO SOX!</span></span><br /></div>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-36638021824809368602007-10-14T18:49:00.001-05:002007-10-14T18:50:31.410-05:00<div style="width:350; background-color:rgb(216,233,237); text-align:center;"><br /> <div style="background:rgb(129,172,201); height:4px;"><br /> <img src="http://www.quizilla.com/images/blue_drk_corner1.gif" style="float: left" height="4" hspace="0" /><br /> <img src="http://www.quizilla.com/images/blue_drk_corner2.gif" style="float: right" height="4" hspace="0" /><br /> </div><br /> <div style="background:rgb(129,172,201); padding: 0pt 0pt 5px;"><br /> <span style="font-size:12px; color:rgb(255,255,255); padding:3px; font-family:Arial;"><strong>What Kind of Knitter Are You?</strong></span><br /> </div><br /> <div style="padding:5px; text-align:left; font-size:12px; font-family:Arial; background-color:rgb(216,233,237);"><br /><br /><center><img src="http://images.quizilla.com/S/sdamot/1097630163_goddess.gif"><br/>You appear to be a Knitting Goddess. You are constantly giving and are unconcerned with reward, you simply want others to love knitting as much as you do. If someone wants to knit miles of novelty yarns, you are there for them. If someone wants to learn short row shaping, you can help. There are no taboos in knitting, only opportunities to grow. Everyone should have friend like you around if they want to learn to knit, and there's a good chance that your passion has rubbed off on a few others.http://marniemaclean.com<br/>Take this <a target="quizilla" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)" href="http://quizilla.com/redirect.php?statsid=17&url=http://www.quizilla.com/users/sdamot/quizzes/What+Kind+of+Knitter+Are+You%3F">quiz</a>!<br/><br /><br /><br/><a href="http://www.quizilla.com/redirect.php?statsid=18&url=http://www.quizilla.com/" target="quizilla"><br /><img border="0" src="http://www.quizilla.com/images/codepastes/30qzlogo.gif" style="padding:2px;" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12;"><br /><br /><a style="color:rgb(0,0,0);" target="quizilla" href="http://www.quizilla.com/redirect.php?statsid=18&url=http://www.quizilla.com">Quizilla</a> | <br /><a style="color:rgb(0,0,0);" target="quizilla" href="http://www.quizilla.com/redirect.php?statsid=21&url=http://www.quizilla.com/register">Join</a> <br /><br />| <a style="color:rgb(0,0,0);" target="quizilla" href="http://www.quizilla.com/redirect.php?statsid=20&url=http://www.quizilla.com/makeaquiz.php">Make A Quiz</a> | <a target="quizilla" href="http://www.quizilla.com/redirect.php?statsid=42&url=http://www.quizilla.com/users/sdamot/quizzes/">More Quizzes</a> | <a style="color:rgb(0,0,0);" target="quizilla" href="http://www.quizilla.com/redirect.php?statsid=19&url=http://www.quizilla.com/codepastes/?quizid=937764">Grab Code</a></center></span><br /></div></div>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-27724285571206639592007-08-23T08:21:00.000-05:002007-08-23T08:25:38.175-05:00First Couple of Days<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02950.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02950.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Last Friday was the first day of school for Miss Priss. They don't have to wear uniforms on Fridays, so she got to pick out what she wore:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02957.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02957.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />She was excited to be there, and just wanted me to hurry up and quit taking pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02959.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02959.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />They were ready for her:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02965.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02965.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />She didn't care when I left - she was busy with the Play-Doh.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02962.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02962.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />On Monday she had to wear her uniform:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC03001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC03001.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />She was upset when she had to leave school on Friday. She was very happy to be going back:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC03021.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC03021.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />She is getting used to wearing her backpack.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC03027.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC03027.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />In less exciting (and photogenic) news, I have started grad school - night classes. We'll see how it goes. I think my classes will be pretty easy, but time consuming (one has eleven papers due by the end of the semester).<br /><br />With a certain someone gone to school everyday, I should have some time before work to get homework done.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC03010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC03010.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-38440695273605409322007-08-16T21:50:00.000-05:002007-08-16T22:09:21.559-05:00Please...I have a favor to ask. But first:<br /><br />Here is the sweater I thought I'd make big, baggy, and way oversize for Miss Priss. It was way oversize, but at least the proportions were right. I thought in a year or two it could be for around-the-house and she could grow into it. It was so big on her, I let the 13-year-old try it on:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1269/1143329467_058e8035e8.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1269/1143329467_058e8035e8.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />So I sent it home with her. It was pretty hideous, anyhow. I used EZ's EPS with bulky yarn so the pattern at the yoke is humongous and I had to decrease during it. And bad patterning with two different size yarns. Oh well, I'm learning. It's only my second sweater, anyhow. Ernie has directions to bring it back when Miss Priss is big enough.<br /><br />My request - anyone who reads this, if you would, please say a prayer for my mom. She had breast cancer about 10 years ago that had spread to her lymph nodes, and it seems to have returned. She has a bone tumor in her leg, and there is very little bone left there. It is fragile, and if it breaks she will be in even worse shape. They are going to remove what they can of the tumor hopefully later this month and reinforce her bone with some metal. Then she'll go through radiation and everything just like she had to last time. We all need your prayers right now.<br /><br />Now, to make me feel a little better, here is some Miss Priss. She likes to play dress-up:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1341/1144180320_10d218e35a.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1341/1144180320_10d218e35a.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />She is such a character! She has on her favorite shoes (light up cowboy boots that her aunt got her), a disco-type dress-up top, and a pink pearlescent belt. And her father's camouflage hat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1329/1144167058_00042c0c2d.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1329/1144167058_00042c0c2d.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />She starts school (4 year old Kindergarten) tomorrow. I can't believe she's so big. I was a little concerned when I looked at the list showing what she should be able to do at the end of the year (recognize her name? She can already write it!), but I will ask about that tomorrow when I drop her off. If you look in the sweater picture at the top of the post, you can see behind Ernie some of the words that she can already read. I hope she's not bored.<br /><br />A parting shot:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1209/1143316357_b81ab45d4b.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1209/1143316357_b81ab45d4b.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a>Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-60931010706759804832007-08-11T07:36:00.000-05:002007-08-11T07:44:25.875-05:00Well, It's Official...I'm a teacher. After over a week of training and working on my room, I had students Thursday and Friday. I was a little nervous, but I had a great time both days. And I'll be more comfortable once I learn all the students' names.<br /><br />I'm going to like this so much better than my year at the laboratory school, where I was thrown in to teaching K-6 with no curriculum, no mentor, no training, no anything.<br /><br />Everyone at the school where I work is really nice. We had Monday to work on our rooms, and I had everyone from janitors to assistant principals coming by to introduce themselves and welcome me.<br /><br />I am only part time, which is good because I'm working on my Masters. I have two classes of Art Awareness (that's art appreciation) and one Art I.<br /><br />And all the new teachers got $100 at the local teacher supply store to get stuff for their rooms. I'm going today to get a stapler, tape, dry erase markers... all kinds of stuff.<br /><br />Not much knitting done lately, but I am working on a pair of Magic Stripes Socks. The mystery shawl has fallen by the wayside. Maybe once I get my lesson plans ready I can work on it for a little while every day before I have kids.Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28162090.post-35906380368173944232007-07-22T09:44:00.000-05:002007-07-22T10:04:07.782-05:00Image Heavy, Minor Knitting ContentThis has almost ceased to be a knitting blog. I did get some knitting on my Prisoner of Azkaban scarf at the Harry Potter Party. Friday night we went to our local Books-A-Million for the activities. They were very disorganized (lots of disappointment over the costume contest foul-ups), but we still had fun. I went with Hermione Grainger (on the left) and Luna Lovegood (center front), and we ran into a Gryffindor friend of ours when we got there (on the right):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02882.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02882.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Whenever there was an activity in the kids' department, my child ceased to participate (she couldn't resist the lure of the books):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02885.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02885.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />There was wand making:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02888.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02888.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />...but we had already made ourselves wands earlier in the day (from top to bottom, mine, Hermione's, Luna's):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02894.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02894.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We saw Fluffy:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02886.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02886.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />...and Madame Pomfrey and Professors Umbridge and Trelawney:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02892.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02892.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />My child left early - she was starting to wind down and couldn't seem to forget we were in a bookstore:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02890.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/astabeth/DSC02890.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We had a good time, despite the jerks who had endings written on their t-shirts going through the store. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.<br /><br />In other news, I did get a job, teaching 2 Art Appreciation classes and one Art 1 class at a local high school. It's part time, so that will give me time to work on my Masters in Education.<br /><br />I am excited to hear that Nervousness.org is being worked on. One of the projects I plan to teach this year involves making ATCs, and I learned about them and made my first ones through Nervousness. I tried playing recently, and only had two participants sign up, and both were really late sending things. The current site is but a shadow of the former site. I hope it returns better than ever!<br /><br />I have finished the body (up to the armpits) and two sleeves (up to the armpits) of my first Elizabeth Zimmerman Percentage System sweater. I am making a big, oversize one for Miss Priss that she can grow into. The yarn matches her eyes. I hope to join all the pieces today. I still haven't had time to work on the Mystery Stole.Beth Bachusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418405386736770888noreply@blogger.com0