Summer's over?!?

I can't believe it's already the middle of August. I haven't posted since...well since my last day at USEF, so what does that tell you about the difference in my lifestyle working there and working exclusively as a waitress?

Anyway, a lot has happened this summer, including NERD WARS! As I wrote before, I'm on Team Bite Me, which is showing impressively around the middle of the table. Instead of recounting all of my projects for the tournament (some of which are pretty pathetic), I think I'll just share the highlights. (If you're unfamiliar with the tournament and want to learn more about it, check out their website).

Tournament 2, Round 1
For the 3D challenge in the Technical Category, I made an anatomically correct heart:

It was a really quick project that turned out very well. Project page here.

For the Team Spirit challenge, I made my first ever pair of socks, entitled My Vampire Boyfriend, in honor of my vampire boyfriend, Spike:

Mmmmm....man candy.

I completed three other project for that round, so if you're really interested, you can find them here.

Tournament 2, Round 2

This round, I managed to complete all six challenges and my dissertation mid-point check in. 

The Nerd Culture challenge was to show your love for another nerdom. I had just gotten a Kindle for my birthday, which I named the TARDIS (it's bigger on the inside, and it allows you to travel in time and space). With that kind of name, it needed an appropriate cover:

The Scientific challenge asked us to create an experiment and use the scientific method to report on the results. My experiment answered the age old question, which is cooler, sparkly vampires or sparkly socks? The socks won:

The last highlight I want to share didn't fit into the challenge very well (I didn't get a lot of bonus points), but the result is super cute so I want to share it anyway:

Isn't he adorable? I'm going to put him up for sale on etsy.

Tournament 2, Dissertation Mid-Point Check In
This was the halfway point for my Gwendolyn Shawl, until I decided that I wanted to do the big version after all, since I hadn't even used one ball of yarn by the halfway point. So now this more like the 1/3 check in. It's still pretty!

Alright folks, that's my link- and picture-heavy check in from the last days of summer!

This whole waitressing thing ain't so bad

I'm going through an optimistic phase. Probably because I'm actually succeeding in my waitressing job. It's amazing how much succeeding or not will affect my mood. I don't like not being good at something...it's not a bad foible to have.


That being said, I do have two days off from O'Charley's in a row, starting tonight. Additionally, this is my last full week at my temp job. I'll probably work one or two days next week. Then it'll be summer! And I'll be waitressing, and hopefully bartending, full time. So it's easy to be optimistic.


Let's see...this is a knitting blog, I should probably put some knitting stuff in here... I'm currently working on this tunic from Stefanie Japel's amazing book Fitted Knits. I'm so glad I picked that book up. In the grand scheme of my evolution as a knitter, books like Fitted Knits are a huge help in my eventual goal to become a published designer. I'm enjoying making the tunic too. I'm learning a lot about short rows and how they shape a garment, as they're used to shape the hips and neckline of the tunic. I'm also enjoying the nontraditional construction, as it's knit lengthwise instead of top to bottom or bottom-up. And what shapely girl doesn't love vertical lines?


Sarah's messenger bag (see last post) is still drying with my books inside it, and as I left my camera in my car, I couldn't take pictures again this morning. They will happen eventually though, I promise! I messed up a bit by sewing the inside pocket in before fulling, and I didn't sew it in very straight (I kind of suck at the whole construction thing...) so there's a bit of a wonky line in the back. I'm not too stressed though since that's the side that's closest to your body, you'd really have to be looking for it to notice. Overall I'm pretty proud of the bag.


I also forgot to mention that I finished a gift for my friend Nick and his wife Rachel, who are expecting another baby any day now. Nick is a huge Cincinnati Reds fan, and wanted to name their second son Votto for his favorite player. Rachel wasn't hearing it, though (no, not even for the middle name), so I made them a little baseball shirt for Caleb Patrick that says Votto on the back. This I do have pictures for:

From Apprivoise-moi

From Apprivoise-moi

I think that's enough to be getting on with. Until next time!