Moving in Stereo

Sunday night my husband, parents and I went to see The New Cars at the House of Blues in Chicago. The Cars are "new" because TODD RUNDGREN is singing with them. I am the biggest TODD fan ever, and hey, the Cars had some good songs. (It's not even possible for me to type TODD's name lowercase because I get so unbelievably excited at the idea of seeing him perform live. Just thinking about it makes me want to get out of my chair and do Homer Simpson's finger waggling "But I'm missing the chili cookoff - it's going on right now" dance.)


So anyway, the concert was incredibly good. Possibly the best show I have ever been to. The only downside (and barely enough to complain about) was the New Cars didn't start their set until 10pm. On a Sunday. And they were on until nearly midnight, with only a short break before an encore. We didn't get home until almost 1am, and I had to drag my sleepy butt into the shower for work only 4.5 hours later.

But yeah. SO WORTH IT.

Are there any other Todd/Utopia fans out there? If so, you will probably also recognize a couple of other new Cars members. Anyone else catch this show? Either in Chicago or anywhere else?



For even more fun, check out a short clip of Todd and the New Cars performing Let's Go at another show in Milwaukee.



Knitting. Sure. I do that too. Check back later. =)

Spinning and Sewing

Here is my very first attempt at spinning on a spinning wheel. It reminds me of sherbert:





You can see the roving I used in the background. I'm sorry to say that I do not remember in the slightest what kind of wool this is. (Oops!) I really enjoyed learning how to spin. A few times I sort of got into a groove and things when along smoothly - but then I'd have a big chunk (technical term) of wool sneak through my hands and have to be pulled back.





I'm not sure yet what I am going to make with it. Probably nothing for a while; I feel like it just needs to sit and be "yarn" for some time!


On other craft fronts, I have been looking for the perfect bag to take to work for months now. I was getting a little tired of juggling purse, lunch, water bottle, thermal coffee mug, knitting, etc. every morning but could not find exactly what I was looking for in a bag. Then I remembered a sewing pattern I had picked up over a year ago and it all came together.





This is McCalls #M4851 made from corduroy and flannel. I am really pleased with the way it turned out. It was relatively inexpensive also - both fabrics were on sale, just the interfacing (throughout the whole bag) was kinda of pricey. I've used it every day so far and it really is just what I needed!

In this photo you can see how the entire bottom piece is a pocket. There are also pockets inside, as well as a removable pocket divider thing that I haven't make yet.



That is a legal pad holder inside to get an idea of scale.

I've got so much to say,

but I don't think I can get it all out in any coherent form. Some times I feel like I need a dozen more hours in the day. Like today, when it took me 1.5 hours to travel the 14 miles home from work. I am in such a Catch-22* of "wasted" time and no time at all.

I've also got so much that I have wanted to post about, but my computer at home has been acting up - or should I say slowing down - to the point where trying to anything on it (especially edit/upload photos) is an exercise in futility. I'm not sure what the problem is, but I have run anti-virus and anti-spyware programs and nothing is ever found. My husband thinks it might be the motherboard going... Fun.

I am not yet brave enough to try posting to my blog from work (I've only been there 7 months and don't really want to push the limits of the IT department just yet), but I am braving the slowness to at least type this.

I have put aside my Diamonique top for now (since it is too cold to wear it anyways) for some more wintry things. Here is a quick list of what I have been working on:

1) recycled Debbie Bliss sweater (or, "why not knit something that actually fits!")
2) Christmas stockings for Steve and I
3) surprise gift #1
4) Opal sock
5) other various gifts in the planning stage. Not sure how many of these are going to pan out.
6) the neglected Diamonique

I finished my spinning class a week ago and have some actual real hand spun yarn to show for it. It was so much fun, but my scratchy throat, itchy hands and painfully red eyes after each class make me wonder again about a wool allergy.

I have also been doing a fair amount of sewing lately. I finished a bag to take to work, and am ready to cut out a skirt.

I am anxious to post photos of all these things once my computer is feeling up to it - so look out for a photo heavy post this weekend!


*you know, if I quit my job I wouldn't have to spend upwards of 2.5 hours in my car a day and I'd have so much more time to get things done (both fun stuff and the laundry,) but I wouldn't be able to afford any of it!