A Gaming Site & Photos of the Consolation Kit

Storytime!

Before I went back to college, I worked for a few months in Volition QA.  I was testing Red Faction Guerrilla; I worked with art and activities, but mostly audio.  This meat that I wrote bugs for my husband, which was cool.  We had a really great time working together, even though stress was high

There weren't many women at the company. In QA specifically, there were much more men than women. I worked with two other girls who started a website about gaming recently.  There is also information about zombie survival, but I don't know much about that.  I think Janette would be the expert.

So, check it out!  Thoughts From A (Girl) Gamer

There are actually four contributors to the website.  It kind of reminds me of when I wrote for The Rabid Monkey and UGPO.  That was around 1999.  I really miss working with those guys.

Anyway, I didn't attach any photos of The Loopy Ewe Consolation Kit because people still had not received them.  I think it's safe now; the color isn't true anyway.

It's much darker than this.  More like a wine color. VERY soft.

Here is the entire kit.  The totebag was a surprise; I didn't think they would throw in anything that nice. It's already full of stuff I'm working on.  The pattern, by Wendy Johnson, is nice too.  I don't think I'll use the yarn for it though.  Oh yeah...the yarn. Nugget got ahold of it and shook it up a bit.  Lucky for him, it's still usable...

Double Casbah

Nothing much to report about knitting since I've been spending my afternoon studying for two exams tomorrow.  I did manage to get not one, but two skeins of Handmaiden Casbah sock yarn mailed to me.

Yarn4Socks was having a 'stash stimulus' sale yesterday which included their Casbah yarn.  I decided to treat myself and pick up a skein; I thought I deserved something nice after getting 100% on both my algebra and chemistry exam this week.  I had never tried it before.

Incidentally, I had also signed up and failed to get a spot in The Loopy Ewe sock club.  They always offer a consolation kit for those that didn't get a spot.  I got an email from them telling me that this new kit was ready.  They could have picked any kind of yarn to use.

They picked Casbah.

I can't complain about that.  They're also including a pattern from Wendy Johnson just for this kit...and surprise extra.  I didn't have to pay or it either;  I used the rest of the gift certificate my mother gave me for my birthday.  Two skeins of Cashbah, a Wendy Johnson pattern and extra goodie for about $20 total. Good day.

In lieu of any knitting photos, here is a cute picture of Nugget.

Janurary Ravelry Sockdown Socks!

I didn't feel compelled to post anything until my second Licorice sock was done.  I've already posted pictures of the first one, so doing the same for the second would seem redundant.  

I finished it yesterday night which means it's time to post!  It also means that I could win a fabulous prize if my name is picked.  There are twelve different prizes to be given away and they are all really nice.  Even if I don't win anything, I now have these awesome pair of socks and I proved that I can knit a pair within two months.  

Here's the stats:

Pattern: Licorice Stick Socks

Source:  The Twist Collective Magazine.  The pattern is $6 and is specifically here.

Yarn:  Dream In Color Starry from The Loopy Ewe.

Colorway:  Dusky Aurora

Needles:  Size 1 bamboo dpns

I memorized the four row pattern repeat after knitting it a few times.  I like the linen stitch heel too; it was a nice change from others I have done.  They fit snugly; overall I am pleased with the outcome. Also, as my husband loves to point out, they sparkle!

So...what now?  I'm going to leave sock knitting behind for now and completely focus on the Rogue pullover.  I also want to re-knit a hat for my husband that he lost in Chicago.  I just need to grab the pattern and get the right kind of yarn.  I'm a broke college student and might hold off until later until I can walk into a yarn shop without crying.

We will get quite a nice tax refund though.  I have to be a good girl and squirrel it away since I'm not making the big bucks as a college student.  

I have been doing other things...like getting more yarn.  I know right?  Why am I getting more yarn if I'm broke?  It all goes back to the Yarn Pirate Booty Club.  It's a GREAT club and the dyer is awesome and super-nice.  She just keeps accidentally sending me more yarn.  That's not why I say she's nice...it has nothing to do with that.  I thought she was nice long before I joined the club.

I tell her every month about the error, but she just tells me to keep it.  I feel pretty conflicted about it; I shouldn't be getting this lovely yarn that she's worked so hard on.  It's pretty yarn that I get to keep though...it's a moral dilemma.

Just look at it.  It's such a weird position to be in.  The top colorway is Plum Pudding, the middle is called Hope, and the last is Daffodilly.  

When I'm not knitting or stashing yarn, I'm being a human calculator.  I've got to study for algebra and run some calculations for my chemistry lab...so that's all for now!

I'm Now A '30-Something'

Before I get into anything else, I'd like to respond to TF about the way I laid out my sock blockers in a photo for a previous post.

You're right, it does look like a penis when the blockers are laid out like that.  Your comment made me giggle. However, I didn't intentionally do it; I just liked how it looked symmetrical. Should I keep doing it? :)

Anyway, last Friday I turned 30 years old.  I didn't cry or go through some sort of denial.  I welcomed thirty; i have a feeling I'd be taken more seriously when I say I'm in my thirties. Besides, people are always surprised when I reveal my age.

My husband says that we'll take a road trip soon to celebrate.  He couldn't get Nugget boarded in time to go this weekend  He says I can choose to go to Chicago, St. Louis, or Indianapolis over the weekend.  I have yet to pick which city I want to visit.  I haven't been to any of them.

St.  Louis is a strong choice, especially after my mother gave me a gift certificate to The Loopy Ewe.  It would be really neat to go see the elves that package up all of the orders.  The problem is we would have to drive out of downtown to get there.  Otherwise, I can't decide on which city I want to visit!

As for other fiber related gifts, I received a really cute pair of Serendipity needles with sheep on the end.

The same person also gifted me a skein of Deluxe Worsted LP yarn in the Autumn Equinox colorway.  I am thinking this might make a nice short row hat.

Now I just have to figure out how to best spend this lovely gift certificate.  I was thinking about some Casbah yarn, but I wonder how it wears.

We need to get a peg leg for Nugget's pirate toy.  He ripped the poor pirate's leg off.

Help Out A Fellow Raveler

I was scanning through the forums on Ravelry and found this post in The Loopy Ewe group.

My stash is or should i say was 95% loopy ewe. I put a freebie in the paper destashing the 5% non loopy ewe. Apparently someone called the house and came over to check out the stash while i was out. My hubby showed her the destash bag in my craft room. UPS knocked on the door and he went to sign for the package. Well this lady decided to help herself to my stash. She took all my yarn and stuck in in the bag with the destash yarn on top. Also my kp harmony interchangeable set. She paid the 15.00 i was asking and left. I came home to no yarn. none. all of it gone. no needles. i am completely cleared out…….. i am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo upset. especially about my calypso hot hot hot…….right now money is tight and i literally have no extra money to replace my stash…..seriously who does that…

Myself and some others offered her some of our own stash yarn from The Loopy Ewe to help her re-build her stolen stash.   Want to help?  Join in the conversation here.