The City of Crochet

Where is the time going?????

2009-06-13T12:40:00.004+02:00

I can not believe that it is already mid-June! Seriously, it was just yesterday that it was new years right????

So I'm sure you want to know whats been on at the Casa de Kimberly. Well.......I've been trying like mad to find what appears to be an elusive job back in the US. I am seriously stressed and depressed and pulling my hair out in frustration here. I really do not want to leave my company since I seriously enjoy both the people and what we do in the world to help others have better lives.

And now for the real reason that you read my blog......crafting!

While I have been busy i have been working my fingers off whenever possible. I am almost finished with a baby afghan and I've finished a few thread projects here and there. Here are a couple of the things I've finished recently:

First up is a Jean Greenhowe design from her Little Men and Monsters Collection - a T-Rex which is sitting on my Dad's bookshelf currently back in the US. he was made using Wibra acrylic and took forever since I was too lazy to take the 10 minutes to sew him all together.

When I was in Spain back in April, I bought a Thread Doily magazine. It is in Spanish, but thankfully the designs are charted so I can just read the charts and figure things out from there along with my very basic Spanish skills I possess for reading the instructions. The first is a small design that I made as a starter Spanish Project using Size 10 Coats Eldorado White thread:

The second doily is way more advanced and ovaly! I loved the look of it as being something different. I first crocheted the round middle section and then added on the two ends before crocheting around the entire project for a few rows...novel concept eh?

I did hit a stumbling block on another small project I am working on. I've never seen this stitch pattern charted before and I can not for the life of me figure out how in the world it can be done based on what is written in the chart! And of course there are no descriptions anywhere on how to do it! I'll have to see if I can write out a portion of the chart and see if anyone knows how it can be done!

What else is on the hooks and needles you ask?

Why another doily, but this one is from a FRENCH pattern book with a Flemish pattern waiting right behind it! Also a few scarves (its summer I know, but I need these for gifts) and some dishcloths and patterns I am testing for others and creating for myself!

What is going on in your corner of the world?

Spring is here!!!!

2009-05-01T13:58:00.001+02:00

And with the arrival of spring comes allergy season and of course, spring cleaning! Or at least that is the plan for the weekend at the Maison de Kimberly!

My apartment has next to nothing when it comes to storage. I have 2 closets, one filled with coats, and the other filled with suitcases, ironing board and the vacuum cleaner. I have 2 wardrobes for my clothes, and one small little dresser. That is it.

Hence the reason the bookshelves are over flowing, clothes are piled up on top of boxes, crafting supplies litter the living room, and overall general chaos exists in my apartment.

I hate it.

I really do.

I can exist and live happily in it, but at the same time it annoys me when I actually stop moving at a 100 miles an hour and actually take a look around.

So I have decided that this weekend will be a cleaning weekend. Ruthlessness will come out and things will be thrown away. Those papers I've had for the 6 years I've lived here? Gone! Out the door. The miscellaneous odds and ends I've kept just in case.....binned!

We will see if I succeed or not.....but away I go to dive into the deep end...cluttered bookshelf number one your minutes are numbered!

And within that cleaning spree is the decision to finish the gazillion unfinished projects i have lying around or else frog them.

Travels galore.....and some crafting!

2009-04-14T22:23:00.002+02:00

First up the travels! I am done for a few weeks now. Lisbon was great fun - I really enjoyed it - had a fab time at the Hard Rock Cafe which was most conveniently located across the street from our hotel - bonus!

First up, me and 2 co-workers I travelled to Lisbon with - Karl and Jon. There was 5 of us in all there celebrating my friend Te-Keisha's birthday.

We spent one day out at the beach - lovely time - nice and sunny and I enjoyed splashing in the water, even if it was FREEZING!!!!

Here are some pictures from Rome - first up me outside of Saint Peter's in the Vatican:
And next, a group shot of us with two Roman Soldiers we found outside the Colliseum!
Last but not least the dishcloth - rather springy is it not? I also have finished almost a second doily - will get it finished and then block both of them at the same time along with some snowflakes I have done recently - nothing like putting it off huh?
I am slowly getting back into the swing of things for crafting. I need to pick up the needles again, which should happen soon hopefully!

My neice has requested more Play Yarn Food - this time she only needs 5 pieces of bacon, 2 doughtnuts and just a few grapes. She was so cute while asking that I could not say no!

I was touched by my nephew the other day. They got a new puppy and we were talking about how he was taking his stuffed animals. I said "oh no thats not good that hes chewing on your animals" to which Andrew replied most seriously "Don't worry Aunt Kim. Super Turtle and Charzon are up on my shelf where he can not get to them. The others were bought at a store, but yours you made for me which makes them super special!"

I did not think he really respected the fact that I made him something, but he does! I made him the little turtle probably 4 years ago, and with all his toys and junk I am surprised he has not lost it in the mess of his room / closet!

Okay, I am off for bed - have a great week everyone!!

Crafting returns!!

2009-04-07T23:11:00.002+02:00

I am finally getting back into the swinging of crafting....about time I know! I've finished finally the dishcloth along with a quick Spanish Doily....my skills in foreign language crocheting are quickly increasing!

Now pictures. Ummm...sure....tomorrow perhaps since my camera batteries died right as I snapped the last picture. Typical right?

I had a great time the past two weekends in Madrid and then in Rome - I just love visiting different cities. I did find a yarn shop in Madrid where I bought some hooks, a hook case and a booklet of Spanish doily patterns. The shop is El Gato Negro and is right in the Plaza Mayor - easy peasy to find!

Wanderlust strikes again....

2009-03-25T20:44:00.002+01:00

Or at least thanks to some really great air plane flights I am going to be travelling a lot the next few weeks!

I spent the past weekend in Nice France and Monte Carlo Monacco - had a great time and really enjoyed seeing the sun for 2 days - I think that living in Belgium I sometimes forget what the sun looks like!

I have found time to update my places I've visited map.

Create your own travel map or travel blog

Travel Info at TripAdvisor

I still have a large number of places that I would like to see! One day and one city at a time I guess!

I am off to Madrid this upcoming weekend, followed by trips to Rome and Lisbon with tentative plans to go to Morocco in the upcoming months!

Crafting? Ummm....I have finished a couple of snowflakes along with starting progress on a dishcloth.....but have not blocked the flakes yet so pics will be coming soon as I find some spare time to get them blocked and starched.

I want to make something.....

2009-03-11T18:15:00.001+01:00

Honest. I really do want to knit or crochet something.....I just don't know what. I am itching to dig into my stash and start churning out projects again.....but I just can not get over some weird subconscious thingy that is drawing me away from the yarn. I stare at my yarn, look at patterns and others finished items and yet there is no great big epiphany on what I will create.

I guess I gots me the crafters blues.

*sigh*

Soon, I promise I will overcome this malady that has me unconsciously turning away from my beloved yarn and reaching instead for solace at the bottom of the nearest pint of Ben & Jerry's.......

Taking it easy....

2009-03-02T11:49:00.001+01:00

This week will hopefully be a quiet one for me. I spent the weekend near Ramstein Germany and I really need to recover. From the 3 hour drive there and back plus a night of dancing - my feet feel like they want to seriously fall off my body!

I have a TON of upcoming travel planned. I will spend this upcoming weekend in Brussels, and then the weekends after that are as follows:

Normandy - near Caen, spening time visiting the beaches & Mont St. Michel

Nice - Sightseeing - first time visiting

Madrid - visiting my old co-workers

Rome - Sightseeing

TBD - For my friend Te-Keisha's birthday

Plus there are tentative trips planned for Dublin and Amsterdam, along with the necessary work trips to Zurich.....crazy!!!!!

This is all in hopes of seeing everything possible before both myself and TeKeisha move back to the US. I still do not have an exact date planned, but it is going to be in the next 6 months as my final Visa is ending June 30th. If I choose to stay longer than this, I will switch to a permanent European contract which I have not wanted to do for various reasons.

I am off to lunch and then hopefully to get a TON done this afternoon rather quickly so that I can have an early night at home to catch up on some laundry and of course sleep!

2009-02-20T01:53:00.002+01:00

Proof that I am still crocheting! Here is a snowflake that I made from a pattern magazine I picked up in Argentina! My first Spanish project.....I feel so proud! =)

And just a fun little pic of me and the girls from our weekend adventures.

I do not have a pic of the doily I am working on....can not find the camera cord....it is around here somewhere!

I just want to sleep...

2009-02-19T18:03:00.001+01:00

Honest, I am not asking much. Just a full night, of 8 hours, of 100% uninterrupted sleep. No more tossing and turning and coughing so hard it feels like my lungs have left my chest and splatted against the wardrobe doors across the room. Monday night it was almost 5:30 before I hit exhaustion, Tuesday was around 4:30ish, last night it was actually around 3:30.

I am going through the motions at work on auto pilot right now - brain has left the building.

I did start a crocheted dishcloth - yay, as well as work on the next section on the french doily I'm working on. No knitting though - just can not find the mojo to start going.

That is it from my side for today! Pictures will be coming soon!

In the top 10.....

2009-02-16T12:40:00.001+01:00

This Valentines Day weekend has to be in the top 10 of my life, if not the top 3.

Meti has started working nights again, so I am all alone. I knew he was going to be working this past weekend, so I did what every "single" person would do and planned a Girl's Weekend. Friday night we included 2 of the guys that we go out with, which ended up being a lot of fun, even though I was sick.

Saturday was spent lazing around one of the girl's apartment until we got up enough energy to go do a whirlwind shopping trip to find THE outfits for a Girl's night on the town. I ended up scoring the cutest little black dress....and wonders of all wonders, it fit me wonderfully! We went out dancing, I had my hair down and let's just say we painted the town red!

Sunday was spent doing brunch at one of the apartments and laughing and reading Cosmo. We found the energy to get dressed eventually (we all live in the same building, so it was sleep pants and lounge clothes all day long) and went to see a chick flick, The Women (great movie!) and since our calorie intake for the weekend was already sky high, ended the weekend with a fried chicken dinner.

It was such great fun with the girls - laughing and joking and just having a great time.

It did not even bother me that I saw the boyfriend for probably about 5 hours in total over the weekend, and that he totally blew off Valentines Day. Who needs a man when you have your girlfriends right!!!!!! =)

I got two wonderful Japanese craft books from my friend Genevieve. She went to a show in Paris and brought them back for me. One is a Hello Kitty Amigurumi book and the other one is a Desert Type amigurumi book - too cute!!! I can not wait to make something from them!

I am off for home now though - still feeling under the weather - I need some more cold meds and some sleep.

Not a bone was broken....

2009-02-05T19:28:00.003+01:00

During my 2nd skiing trip to France. This time we went to Les Trois Vallees to a resort called Les Menuiers. We had an amzing time - the views were spectacular, and the skiing was great fun.

I really progressed this time and even went off-piste (not on the marked trail) in the powder some which was amazing until I hit a rock and tumbled head over heels.

Here are a few pics.....

First up a picture of yours truely in the Powder (before the aforementioned tumble) with the resort of Val Thorens in the background.....

The views from the top of the slopes.....
The gang - Justin, Me, Andy, Erin & Marci - a great group of people to go skiing with - we are truely had a good time together with lots of laughter and fun!
Les Menuiers where we stayed.....
The view of the mountains with the ski lifts....
I did work a little bit on my doily that I brought, but no great energy to do more than just a little bit. I hope that I can get back into the crafting bug soon so I can start using up some of this yarn that I have bought and have sitting here waiting for inspiration to appear!

I hope that everyone is doing well! Will catch up more with everyone soon!

Hello from Paris!

2009-01-23T14:19:00.001+01:00

I drove to Paris this morning - easy drive, and I am now sitting in the subburbs at our office here, and tomorrow it is off to the mountains and a week of skiing!

I am very excited about going skiing, although after my day skiing last week in Switzerland, I know that I am going to be VERY sore after 6 days....perhaps I'll lose some weight during this time - I can hope! =)

I did not really pack any projects to take with me - I threw in a doily I am working on at the last minute, but just did not feel the mood. I am looking forward to just relaxing and skiing and not thinking about work.....well, not thinking about it after my call on Monday that I need to take.....well, 2 calls actually. No rest for the weary that is for sure.

Au revoir Mon Ami

2009-01-20T10:35:00.001+01:00

What to do?

What to do, when the bad news arrives

The unchangeable need to say good-bye

What to do, when your hearts torn in two?

The pain and the sadness, filling your mind

What to do, when you need to talk

But only silence answers your cries

What to do, when you need to cry

The tears won't come, for your eyes are dry

What to do, when you're all alone

Miles away no chance to go home

What to do, when the curtain is closed

But to say farewell, we'll miss you my friend

________

Farewell my old friend. You will be missed by everyone who was lucky enough to have a chance to have you in their lives. I thank you for so many good memories, and I wished that we had had a chance to have more together, but we had to grow up and move on with our lives, while time and distance came between us.

And the year begins.....

2009-01-14T21:31:00.001+01:00

With lots of travel and a snowflake!

I am in Zürich for a week, including staying over the weekend which will let me get in a day of skiing on Saturday. I'm really excited about skiing and trying out my rusty skills before I go to France.

I am off to the French Alps the 24th for a week of zooming down the mountain. I am hoping that I can get in some lessons again this year and improve on my very beginners skiing ability. We are going to Les Menuiers which is part of the Trois Vallee region in France.

Hopefully I will have a few more trips planned in Feb and March which will keep me busy. I still do not know when I am moving back to the US - I am living one week at a time almost waiting to see what the job hunt turns up.

The first finished project in 2009 is a snowflake from a Spanish magazine I picked up in Argentina. The pattern was charted which allowed me to easily complete it, although it took me a few minutes to figure out which symbols were which stitches. I'll post a picture of it as soon as I get my camera downloaded to my computer.

I brought the Granny Blanket which I did not finish in the US in hopes of making more progress on it. I hope to have it finished soon and mailed to my cousin back in the US for her baby girl. I also brought a doily I am working on and the Spanish magazine in hopes of making a few more flakes from different patterns.

Happy Crafting!!

A few Vacation pictures.....

2009-01-07T07:35:00.002+01:00

Here are a few pictures from my vacations - all of people since I had been to Argentina before I did not take that many touristy type shots of buildings etc, but people are what makes the holiday great!

Included here are the Niece & Nephew with my parents Christmas Bears, Me & Miss Molly (Vik's dog), Me & the Llamas at the zoo, Me, Zori & Leen, and then Me & Vik.

A look back at 2008....

2009-01-06T06:29:00.003+01:00

Part of the whole making resolutions each year is to look back at what was accomplished or as the case may be not accomplished during the previous year.

Before I go into a huge self analysis on my resolutions from 2008, I thought to show you 2 of the final 2008 projects that I made.....

First up is the Santa Cloth that I made for my Mom. Done in Katia Cotton in red:

Second is a hat made with some of the yarn I bought in 2006 in Argentina:

Now on to the 2008 failures and successes. The whole resolution list can be found here from last year: http://cityofcrochet.blogspot.com/2008/01/first-post-of-2008.html

Resolution #1: Yarn on Top 10 List: Only used 5 of the yarns - Failed
Resolution #2: 52 Projects: Over 56 if you count the yarn food - Succeeded
Resolution #3: 26 Projects with Stash Yarn: Done thanks to yarn food - Succeeded
Resolution #4: No more yarn bought: Bought way too much: Failed
Resolution #5: 2 Projects KPAD & CPAD: Failed
Resolution #6: Finish all existing WIPS: All either finished or frogged: Succeeded
Resolution #7: Weight Loss: Gained more - Failed
Resolution #8: Travel to 2 Places To Visit Before I die: Went to 6 - Succeeded
Resolution #9: Travel once per month - Succeeded
Resolution #10: Decision to go back to US: Made in May - Succeeded

Well, 60% or 2 out of 3 (just about) ain't bad! =) #4 was set out to fail - how could anyone not buy any yarn?

I still need to think about resolutions for 2009, perhaps some repeats from 2008 will occur, and hopefully all will be a challenge but more reachable than 2008's resolutions!

Look what I can do with my Yarn Food!

2009-01-05T22:26:00.004+01:00

While home for Christmas my niece Megan pulled out her play Yarn Food that I had made for her, along with the two doughnuts that was sent from Anita. She got a huge smile on her face and said "Look what I can make Aunt Kim"

This was the result......

A little person made of food!

Megan is still saying that she is going to be a Chef when she grows up. She got an Easy Bake oven for Christmas and took great pride in making a cake and giving us all a bite of her masterpiece.

Happy New Year 2009!!

2009-01-01T20:21:00.002+01:00

Best regards to all for a prosperous New Year in 2009!

2008 has been a difficult year in many ways. I am glad that it is over, but also sad that another year has passed by so quickly! I hope that everyone has has a great Christmas vacation!

My trip to Argentina, Texas & Michigan went very well aside from a few transportation issues, but I arrived safely every time which is all that matters at the end of the day!

Hola from Buenos Aries!!!!

2008-12-19T20:48:00.003+01:00

A quick picture of me, Zori & Leen out and about in Buenos Aries last night. Having a great time down here will be sad to leave tomorrow but also happy to go on and visit 2 days with my Grandfather. Vacation is flying by faster than the speed of light - wish I had another week or two or three here to enjoy!

More details on the trip to come. I did manage to find 2 yarn stores so far, will see if I visit any more tomorrow with Vik!

Only 2 more to go....

2008-12-10T15:27:00.001+01:00

Days that is! I leave Friday morning for my 2.5 week voyage. I am flying first to New York and then on to Argentina. I will spend a week there and then fly to McAllen Texas to visit my Grandfather for 3 days, and i will then fly up on the 23rd to Chicago and drive around to Michigan for a week with my parents and all my nieces and nephew!

A VERY busy time, but all will be well worth the time spent on airplanes and waiting in airports.

And did I mention that I am in Zürich tomorrow? Ick! But I am going for a good reason so that makes it worth the additional airplane time this year.

I am busy working on a few last minute Christmas presents - hopefully my time on planes and airports will be well spent!

I hope that everyone has a great few weeks and will talk to you all soon!!

Pattern Tester Needed

2008-12-02T11:31:00.001+01:00

Anyone have a days time on their hand to knit up a charted dishcloth? I have the dishcloth both charted and written out so anyone comfortable with either method would be able to knit my newest design.

If anyone is interested, please contact me either on Ravelry (user name: Kimberly) or via e-mail at KAML19 at YAHOO dot COM

As the cloth is intended for New Years, it would need to be knit rather quickly.

Cheers!

Foreign Country does not equal not understood

2008-12-01T20:55:00.003+01:00

What is it about some people that make them think that just because they are in a foreign country others will not understand what they are saying?

While eating tonight in the hotel restaurant, I had the great experience of having a "lovely" American couple sitting behind me. I would estimate that they were in their upper 60s or so.

During their conversation I heard about their romantic life and what he intends to do to her tonight. Their financial status including the cost of this trip and how American Express cards work. A rant about foreigners in America...are we not all foreigners and children of immigrants? His own sense of self-importance.....how would the world function without him? That maintenance road workers drive around with the lights on top of their car lit up to make them feel more important the "#$*!&$# *!*$# !$*#@$*" and so on and so forth.

I really held myself together until the whole romantic escapades section came up and then I had to leave. I mean ick! I don't want to hear about that while eating dinner....well, I was done eating so while digesting my dinner.

Please, I ask everyone to consider when traveling to a foreign country to please realize that others around you just might speak your language!

In Dublin I had some French speaking people talk about me rather rudely after I told them in English that the chair they wanted to take was occupied.....the expressions on their faces when I told them after listening to them basically say how ugly and stupid and bitchy I was that "perhaps they misunderstood my English, but the chair is occupied by a friend so they can not take it" in French was priceless. Needless to say they quickly left the area.

*sigh*

Other than the dinner experience Zürich is good. Colder than Brussels with a covering of snow on the ground in places.

I did notice tonight that I have somehow managed to chip part of the ruby in my ring off. Not so happy about that one. Especially as I replaced not even a year ago one of the diamonds that fell out of the setting in the ring. It is not so noticeable unless you look closely at the ring, but now that I noticed it I can not help but look for it every time the ring catches my eye.

*sigh*

Okay, I hope that everyone has a great and wonderful week!

I think its done!

2008-11-30T21:36:00.002+01:00

I've been working on an idea for a dishcloth, a knit dishcloth, and i think that I have it finally done.

I've charted out a design for a New Years cloth with a champagne bottle, 2 glasses & 2009 on the chart.

I just need to print off the instructions and go back through the written details versus the charted details to make sure everything is in alignment as I made changes to the chart several times as I went along.

Fingers crossed, it will be ready to be published by the time I return from Zürich on Wednesday night!

I've had several ideas for charted dishcloths floating in my head - its a nice feeling to get one onto paper. I charted it out using my handy dandy excel and then pasted the chart as a picture into my document, so hopefully all is readable! My only fear is that now every time I open Excel for work I will start thinking of knitting charts......not going to make my new boss that happy if my productivity goes down!

Okay, I need to finish doing dishes from the cookie making experience! Great fun was had - my french is getting better as I was able to converse with the 5 year olds with no problem, although a few times they laughed after I said something....must have said it really wrong, but none the less they understood - yay!

Cheers!

Today is cookie baking day!

2008-11-30T14:34:00.002+01:00

I am so excited to be making cookies today! Yummmmmyyyy!!!

My co-worker Marjorie and her two children are coming over. Will be interesting to see how my apartment handles two 5 year old twins! I am figuring that the boy will not last that long with cookie making, so its a good thing I have the PacMan game and the Wii to keep him entertained afterward! I also pulled out all of my kid movies so those are also a fall back, but I think the Wii should keep him well entertained!

Pictures of the event will be coming along with pictures of the finished cookies!

I am going to Zurich tomorrow morning for 3 days. Some issues came up on Thursday and Friday last week so I am going to Zürich to straighten them out as best as I can. Or at least attempt to. It all depends on my new boss and the VP being behind my way of thinking which is at least more rationale than my colleagues in the US who started the issues.

Okay, must go get all the ingredients ready for the cookie making! I hope everyone is having a GREAT weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

2008-11-27T11:31:00.003+01:00

To all my fellow Americans, I wish to you a very happy and joyful Thanksgiving! I hope that everyone is able to spend this day with family and friends as we give thanks to what & who we have in our lives.

I will be spending today working as it is not a holiday here in Belgium and then tonight I will do a big dinner with my fellow Americans who are here - it should be fun.

I am preparing a ham, and lets just say it will be interesting! It is a raw ham from a freshly butchered pig, no pre-cooking or curing done on it. I've never cooked a ham this way, so I am taking the butchers advice on this one and preparing it the way he told me to! Thankfully one of the other girls is preparing a Turkey, so we will have that as a fall back if only not really enough meat since there are 10 of us and the Turkey is 10 pounds.

I've been busy crafting. My Argentinian yarn hat is about 3/4 of the way done, my Santa Cloth is about 1/4 of the way done, and I am making some snowflake type things from a pattern in a French magazine a colleague gave to me. The flakes are charted and I've never seen a chart like this before so it is interesting. I've hit a point where I am a bit stumped by the chart and what it wants me to do, but I will figure it out I am sure!

Pictures are coming - I'm just too lazy to get them posted lately it seems....At least I am doing better on posting, so that is half the battle!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!