Be*mused

Six days in July

Wednesday:

• Realtor calls to check in.  Informs me that there is only one pending house sale in our township for the entire month of July.
• Post call, I do an internet search to see how many homes are currently for sale here and up pop 1,206 listings.  Some are duplicates.  Let's call it *multi-hundreds*.

Thursday:   

• Reality sinks in.  We're probably not going anywhere any time soon.  I decide to relax a bit.  No more daily, frantic supercleaning for me.  I shower late, leave morning dishes in sink and start several loads of wash.
• Call from realtor's appointment desk.  'Someone would like to see the house today.  Actually, they were in your neighborhood with their realtor when they noticed your house.  They're parked out front...are you sure it's not a problem?'

Friday:

• Two more calls from appointment desk to set up showings for Saturday.  One is a repeat showing.  I have a good feeling about this.

Saturday:

• Rise early to tidy up.
• Decide to stoop to cheap trick and bake some chocolate chip cookies before the appointments.  M is quite excited about this idea until I tell him that I will only be baking one small sheet's worth and freezing remaining batter for future showings.
• Repeat viewers show up early, catch me as I'm heading out and ignore my breezy wave.  They approach and ask questions.  Darn.  Prefer not to talk to prospectives.  Can we be out quickly?  *Sure.*
• Late afternoon call from our realtor with feedback.  They loved our house.  We're in the top two.

Sunday:

• Up early, tidying again.  If we're in the top two, wife may want one more showing.  Roust M out of bed so we can be ready, just in case.  I have a good feeling about this.
• 11:00 am, call from realtor.  What?!!!  We have an offer! 
• Realtor arrives at 2:00 to present offer.  Not bad.  Almost acceptable.  They would like possession by August 31.  Yikes!  We will take the afternoon to decide on a counter offer. 
• We decide on a number and will call our realtor in the evening.  While making dinner, I glance out the window at our neighbor's house, which has been for sale since March.  2006.  I tell M we should cut the number and just *g the h* out of here.  Fine with that, he calls our realtor.  He will proffer this immediately.  Happy!  Anticipating!

Monday:

• M rises at 4:30 am to drive to Chicago.  Unlike my usual sleepy goodbye, I'm wide awake and get up to see him off.  It's trash day and all of a sudden, I am aware of how close August 31 is.  We won't have a permanent place in Chicago by then.  Do I want to put floral shop vases and previously read novels in storage?  Will I be bringing okonomiyaki sauce to the apartment?  I think not.  I start tossing items into trash bags and filling new boxes destined for Goodwill.
• 9:00 am, call from realtor.  Congratulations!  Counter offer accepted.  Buyers live out of state, will be signing and faxing the agreement to him by early afternoon.  He will call when everything's in hand.
• I text message M (who's in a big meeting,) SOLD!
• I text message my sister, traveling cross country, SOLD!
• I email K, SOLD!
• I email Molly, PLANS FOR UPCOMING TRIP TO JAPAN ON HOLD...SOLD!!
• I call my parents, SOLD!
• K calls to hear the details.
• Happy, happy!
• I hear the trash truck in the neighborhood and continue to furiously fill bags as mental lists are expanding geometrically.
• Noon.  Trash is picked up.  I'm exhilarated but could use a little break, sit down to read some blogs.  Blackbird is just home from her whirlwind trip to Chicago.  I start an email to her...so, do you think you could live in the city?  Chicago?  What did you think of it?  I need your opinion on this because, SOLD!  We're heading out and I still don't know...city or suburbs...
• Interrupted by ringing phone.  Caller ID says it's our realtor.  Yay!
• 'The wife changed her mind.  She won't sign the final offer.  I've never had anything like this happen before.'
• Huh?????
• I call M.  *Nevermind*
• I call K.  *Nevermind*
• I text message my sister.  *Wife changed mind. No joke.*
• I call parents.  *Nevermind*
• I delete email to Blackbird.
• I email Molly.  *Nevermind*

Tuesday:

• I'm exhausted. 
• My Norwegian wool sample cards arrived yesterday so I think I'll go sit and stare at them for a while. 
• I may bake a sheet of chocolate chip cookies.  Of course, I'll clean up immediately.

Tweet

Tweet

Sweet

I am in love with this little mitten (a mere 6 1/2" long.)  It is such an improvement over my first effort, the blue & white Selbu mitten.

The interior thumb join is a much smoother transition, patternwise.

Side by side with the first effort, it's apparent that I'm making some progress on my tension issues.  The little mitten is neat and straight, unlike the blue and white one, which despite blocking, bulges out toward the top.  Each was made with Satakieli yarn on #1 dpns, but on the second mitten, I switched from metal, Susan Bates needles to Brittany Birch dpns and found them a big improvement.  No more slipping and sliding...a real pleasure to knit on. 

And the Satakieli?  After badmouthing it several times, I think it's growing on me.  It does block up beautifully and I do like the traditional look and feel of the finished pieces.  I've ordered several similar weight yarns, however, and am waiting for some color cards of Rauma dks to arrive from Nordic Fiber Arts.  More variations of these mittens to come.  And maybe an actual pair by the time the snow flies!

Porch knitting

Summer sure is speeding by, isn't it?  Last week was more crazy than lazy.  (Hazy? Too distracted to notice.)  Honestly, if I didn't have a heart attack last week, I never will.  Just the recounting would get me started again, so instead I'll share the efforts of some *somewhat* relaxed knitting time on the porch.

After I made that first Norwegian mitten, my blue and white practice piece, I was pretty hot to get started on another pair before I lost the rhythm of my newly developed two-color knitting skills.  I didn't really like the yarn I used though (Satakieli,) so I had been poking around shops and the internet looking for a worthy substitute in interesting colors.  By this weekend, I still hadn't put my hands on what I wanted, so I just picked some red and white Satakieli from the stash and started knitting.  I still don't care for it (it's a bit thready,) but I do love working on these, which are children's mittens, Annemor #5, from the Selbuvotter book.  Aren't they charming?  I did find a small error in the chart...only 9 stitches are shown to be saved for the thumb, contrary to the 11 indicated in the written instructions.  I guessed wrong and went with the chart the first time, but after tinking back and holding the 11, the pattern fell together correctly and it was full speed ahead.  I did email the author with my observation.

What did we do before Post-it notes?

I was surprised recently to receive some comments on my early Selbuvotter posts from Terri Shea, the author, who said that my blue and white mitten was the first she'd seen from her book patterns on the blogs.  Come on, people, give them a try!  They're so lovely and easy to knit.  A very satisfying project for a summer's day on the porch.  Even Sandy's thinking about mittens again!

Could you make this stuff up?

Today I played with scraps.  No sewing, just playing.

I pulled out plastic bags of scraps that had had the air sucked out of them and been put away for the anticipated move.  And played.  Moved little pieces around on a white board.

 

Because the weekend wore me out.  It wasn't the Friday night cornhole tournament that did me in.  (When in Rome...)  And Saturday was pretty quiet.  No, it all started Sunday afternoon when I received an email from eBay, which I almost deleted, suspecting it might be a phishing expedition.  The subject line gave me pause...'eBay Change Email Notice'.  You know that sickening feeling you get when you just know things are going to be heading south for a while?  Ugh.  Briefly, someone hijacked my account, changed my password and was bidding on laptops and DVD equipment.  *I* owed someone $630. for a completed auction and there were many messages on my 'My eBay' page from sellers responding to *my inquiries.*  Since the email address had been changed, they were being forwarded to the impostor.

The eBay security people got it all straightened out, helped me change my password and advised me to change my password on my email account, since this is how criminals often gain access.  Ok.  But I have security running on my computer.  So how....?  My mind was racing as I checked all of my password protected pages.  Phew.  Nothing else touched.  Just in case, I changed my other passwords.  When the realtor called to book an evening house showing, we headed to the movies where Live Free or Die Hard distracted me from my internet security woes.

When we got in, I decided to try to access my eBay account again...just checkin'.  Hmm...new password wasn't working.  Back to Live Chat.  Ackkk!  Compromised again!  Hyperventilation commences.  We went through the whole reset process again and I decided to run a manual MacAfee scan which picked up and removed several suspicious possibilities.  Having changed everything before the scan, I had to go change passwords again.  Wearying.  Worrying.  Still not sure about the situation. 

The worst moment in all this?  When I went into my eBay account page and saw that my mailing address had been changed to Nigeria.  A MOSQUE in Nigeria, for God's sake!  (No pun intended.)  The lesson learned?   Check, check, check.  Change your passwords frequently.  Run those scans more often than the pre-scheduled times.  Regularly click over and check your account pages on sites you do business with. 

And now I'm waiting for the Mole Mountie to arrive.  Am I making mountains out of molehills here?  I think not. 

Converted

Surprise mail...slate, thunder, prune, pewter.

Last month when I when I wrote this post, among the comments left was one from none other than Liza Lucy, suggesting that I reconsider my plan of using black for the connecting hexagons and instead consider trying something a little less *safe*, perhaps one of Kaffe's shot cottons.  Although I almost never use solid colors in my quilts (this one may be the only time, other than little red squares in log cabin blocks,) my grandmother's flower garden project had its genesis in a photo of an antique quilt that used black as the connectors.  Reluctant to veer from something that was already working, I nonetheless decided to use the comment as an opportunity to do a little research. 

Two-tone selvedges, pre-wash.  (click for closeup)

I first read the comment upon returning from several days away.  I emailed Liza, recounting that when the shot cottons were introduced years ago (many years ago...perhaps when KF introduced his first prints, around the same time Roberta Horton was doing her stripes,) I had purchased several half yards but they had lost so much color in the prewashing that I had put them aside, afraid to use them for fear of color transfer in subsequent quilt washes.  Had this been addressed over the years?  She responded quickly by telling me that although she had had some runoff in pre-use rinsing, she had never experienced any color transfer, but that I should judge for myself and watch my mail.  As if on cue, the mail truck pulled up within the hour with several quarter yards of shot cottons to try. 

Since she was trying to convince me, I decided to put the fabric through several tests.  First, I dry-rubbed each color against clean white flannel.  No transfer.  I then placed swatches of the 4 colors on top of the flannel and splashed hot water on each.  The following morning when I lifted the swatches, the flannel was as white as when I started...no color transfer.  I then proceeded to do my usual hot water sink soak, followed by a short wash in the machine and an ironing.  I did get some runoff in the sink soak, as Liza had experienced, but no color transfer, just as she had suggested would be the case.

Post wash, pre-trim. (click for closeup)

So what's the big deal about shot cottons?  It's easy to see in hand, but a bit more difficult on a computer screen.  Unlike solid color cottons which are dyed as whole cloth, these fabrics achieve their unique colorations through the weaving of two different colored threads, warp & weft.  The result is a subtle depth...they shimmer a bit...that sets off prints beautifully.  In some of the colors, it's initially difficult to discern that there even are two different thread colors.  However, after washing, it's easier to see in the untrimmed edges.

After my successful testing, I ordered a selection of colors which I'm hoping will solve some problems for me in a few *in-progress but stalled* projects.  And the grandmother's flower garden quilt?  Still deciding, but sampling possibilities. 

Blossoms on pewter...

prune...

slate...

thunder...

navy.  (They really *pop* on navy, if you like *pop*.)

Side by side...value variations.

If you're interested in trying the shot cottons, two more notes.  First, they iron up beautifully if you dampen them first.  And finally, they come in such an array of gorgeous, subtle colors that I would strongly recommend that you cut and mark a swatch for future reference if you suspect you may ever want to buy more of a color.  Some are so close in hue that they may be difficult to identify if you need to purchase more later.

Finally, in the same group of comments was one from Tonya, recommending her favorite solid black, a Michael Miller fabric called Jet Black.  I have several yards ordered from eQuilter, so for this particular quilt, the jury's still out.  But on the shot cottons as a whole?  No question.  You'll be seeing these pop up in my projects from now on.  As I have in the past, I highly recommend Glorious Color as a source, for range of available colors and excellent service.  And there's no disputing that Liza's quite the business woman, is there?  *wink*  Thanks again, Liza!    

***Added later: Since a couple of commenters have alluded to the weight of the shot cottons, I realize I should have described it as well.  It is a bit less substantial than print cloth, comparable in weight and weave to a madras plaid.  A fine choice for quilts in general, though in my opinion, probably not the best choice for something that would be subjected to heavy wear. 

Lazy porch day

I've had a post in mind for a week, but it's going to take a little organization...not much of that around here this weekend.  Today was the kind of lazy, hot day for sitting on the porch and doing a little handwork.  Norah Jones in the background, the ceiling fan whirring on slow and a tall, cold drink.  With a little break for a phone chat with my oldest childhood friend, in Maine.  I wish I was sitting on a porch up there today. 

The post-it notes are accumulating, and you know, I must keep it neat around here...*in case*...so here's a list of links to keep you entertained on a lazy, hot day.

• I've been itching for a good lacework project lately, waiting for the Bee Shawl pattern, though I suspect its size will swamp me.  Such a clever design, though.  Fluffbuff just finished the Myrtle Leaf Shawl and it's tempting me, too, though I'd have to shorten it.   
• For all of you matryoshka fans out there (you know who you are,) here's a gorgeous felted set. 
• Loosely staying on the felt theme, Beate does some beautiful work.  I especially like this piece of hers.
• Remember the bug lanterns I wrote about last summer?  Thimbleanna just wrote tutorial post for something similar that has a lot of possibilities.  If you're not into bug lanterns.
• You probably all read Manda's Tree Fall Design by now.  Aren't her new pincushions a clever use of those selvedge edges we're usually discarding?  (At the same time we're on the hunt for text on fabric.)
• I'm a sucker for house blocks and Sewprimitive Quilter just put some ufo blocks together into a great little quilt top.
• A while ago I posted a link to instructions for some little leather baby shoes.  (You all made some, right?)  Someone took that idea and ran with it, developing a pattern for fabric shoes...could these be any cuter?  Here's the post from which you can download free instructions.
• And finally, in the category of *why didn't I think of that?*, possibly the best invention ever.

Now I'm going to be thinking about brownies all night.

Driving Miss Crazy

Where has a week gone?  I had hoped to post before now but you might want to thank your lucky stars that I haven't, because I am driving most people around me a little bit crazy.  I acknowledged as much to M on Monday and he assured me that if I haven't driven him crazy yet, he'll probably survive our current situation.  We just got in yesterday from 5 days in Chicago...five wonderful, fun days in Chicago which is the root of my current confused (bemused?) state. 

We listed our house after an exhaustive month or so of touring the Chicago area and deciding to focus our house search on a small area of inner(ish) suburbs.  On Monday, I went out with our realtor to look at several homes there, the whole time recounting to her our fun weekend adventures...the first, a Saturday evening business event in the outdoor gardens of the Art Institute.  We had grabbed a cab over but walked back to the apartment afterward, weekend fireworks bursting in the distance over Navy Pier .  Sunday, after after an afternoon of suburban open houses, M & I left our lobby in the evening and within steps were walking the trail along the waterfront, almost down to the Field Museum and back.  Walk the Line was on the big screen in Grant Park and, the area thick with rollerblading, cycling, strolling and picnicking humanity was people watching at its best...my favorite pastime.  After our house appointments on Monday, I told Linda she could drop me off anywhere, that I loved the challenge of orienting myself in the city and finding my way back to the apartment, coming across interesting spots along the way that I might not have come across otherwise. 

Can you see where this is heading?  Why the heck am I househunting in the suburbs?  So, my question of the day, for those of you who are still with me here have lived most of your lives in a house but have made the switch to condo living, how's that working for you?  Can a suburban housewife with red polka dot kitchen curtains find happiness in the big city?  Any and all input would be most appreciated.

First thing this morning, I headed to the post office to pick up my accumulated mail.  See it up there?  Notice that big white priority envelope at the bottom of the stack?  Here's just a peek.

 

FYI, this isn't just wanton indulgence.  There's actually a back story and I'll tell you about it next time.  And more mitten love, too!  The rest of today will be all about washing yardage and answering email...catching up from my few days away.  There's a stack of newspapers to be read, but I think I've seen enough in the headlines. 

Great news for home sellers.

How about this one?

I might as well go enjoy myself and make a big creative mess.  I think I'm going to be here a while.