ooo-la-la The enabler speaks French

After a long week I came home in kind of a funk. We had decided to go see a friend who we thought was working at a national chain bath and body place but she was already off for the day. This mall is an out door variety and has turned into the local kids meeting place. So we drove to another nearby mall for a beefsteak sandwich and some quiet decompression. After the sandwich we detoured and went looking at the stores on the way out and I began to feel a lot better when we found something special.

We weren't looking for anything special but when you find something that fits perfectly and looks this good, how can you refuse to give in, and take it home. Oh and it was on sale too! Does the name Etienne Aigner mean anything to you? He came to the US in 1959 and opened his studio in Manhattan where he introduced his French designs. Tonight we brought home a pair of shoes that are classic spring beauty yet exciting. Blush pink kid soft leather, satin lace trim and petite bow over the toe opening. Picot trim, slim elastic assisted heel strap and perfect 2” kitten heel for comfort. I’m relating the comfort part 2nd hand because I would have to take someone else’s point of reference for this, but the unmistakable sigh as they slid on and as the first few steps were taken sealed the fate of this purchase.

Life is good when you can bring home pretty shoes even if they're not for you. We were thinking of wardrobe and quickly coordinated multiple outfits to show off this new addition. Perfect spring shoes...

I will have some knitting content tomorrow.

And before you think otherwise, I enjoy the beauty of ladies fashion when it helps the person who wears it feel special. You know when you wear that special outfit and you glow with confidence because you "know" you look good. I love to witness that undeniable look.

SP10 Thank you

I want to thank my Secret Pal for the wonderful card I recieved today. Very good choice, you have read my blog and I appreciate your research.

Mr Twisted

And the Winner is....

For best supporting extremity in a non-speaking role. And the winner is???????

Ok so I didn't win anything or even get a word on camera but I had a chance to use this silly picture of me holding the Oscar from last month when we took some relatives to see the Kodak Theater and they had an Oscar history exhibition. To bad I wasn't wearing my tuxedo, it would have been more believable, and yes I do have my own tuxedo. If you had a chance to see my TV debut last week you have seen my hands at their best or at least knitting. The link is on the last post.

Very busy shopping weekend, Secret Pal has started again so I did some online shopping and some LYS shopping.

I had something happen today that I must say took me by surprise. When I opened the door to La Petite Knitterie this afternoon I was met with “Hey, It’s Mr. Twisted.” I know Kat and Lori Lawson from the shop but I didn’t recognize the lady but she knew me. I was speechless. It was a little uncomfortable for me to be recognized by what I published on my blog but also honored that people take the time to read my musings. I was a little uncomfortable in that I wandered around looking at the yarn but not really looking at it. When we write in these online dialogs we only think a few of our friends and a few other knitters who comment are really paying attention until she started asking me about pictures I forgot I even posted. I just didn’t think anyone was really paying that much attention. I don’t think it’s going to change the way I write or the subject matter I blog about but I hope when she comments I will be able to enjoy her blog as well. It was fun to hear that she used my blog to show her husband he’s not the only male knitter out there.

Oh there is some knitting content here too
Mrs. Twisted finished her Bombshell top from Big Girl Knits
Made from Blue Sky Alpaca 100% Alpaca





And she finished a pair of socks in the book “Knitting on the road” by Nancy Bush.
The pattern is Conwy in Posh yarn Lucia (75% merino and 25% cashmere) in color way Twinkle.

My socks are coming along well. No major problems (knock on wood) for a little while. I’ll post a pic when the first one is complete. Soon I’m sure.a

Update.....

TV Update.

The segment aired this morning without much warning. You won't see much of my face but I'm knitting a sock on DP needles. there is a 3 or 4 second shot as they walk in the shop. Just the knitting. I recognized my hands LOL the watch, my sapphire ring ring and my Holtz & Stein rosewood double point needles. I'm the older looking guy wearing black with salt & pepper hair. There are a few shots where I'm in the background of other shots. A little disappointed that I wasn't featured but I'm happy out friend was, Congrats to Jason for getting the air time. I think the segment will really promote the shop and help it grow even more. Special thanks to Shannita and Annette at A Mano Yarn Center for inviting me to join in.



http://www.canal22.tv/KNBC/YOURLATV/knbc.htm

http://www.amanoyarncenter.com/

http://amanoyarn.typepad.com/

update.

TV Update
The segment in which we were supposed to be in Monday the 19th was not on and I will update the blog when I hear of the new air date.

Men knitting on TV (me)

I was invited to attend a special men's knit night last Tuesday night for an upcoming TV news magazine show.

The wonderful ladies at A Mano Yarn Center included me in the segment and here is the E-mail I received Saturday morning.

Hey Everyone!The Your LA segment featuring your wonderful selves will air this Monday (3/19) at 11:30 am on NBC. I hear it will be on the website as well, but I'm not sure if that will happen the same day or not. Here's a link to the Your LA website: http://www.canal22.tv/KNBC/YOURLATV/knbc.htm
Thanks again for participating in a wonderful night!
Cheers,
Shannita
p.s. would you all be interested in continuing the men's night on a monthly (or more frequent) basis? Let me know.

-- A Mano Yarn Center
12808 Venice Blvd .
Los Angeles, CA 90066
amanoyarn@gmail.com
http://www.amanoyarn.com/

I didn't know what to expect but it was quite fun. I invited Jason from our Orange County Pub Knitters group to join us after Shannitta asked me to bring other male knitters who I thought may be able to come at short notice.

Jason is facing the camera on the right.

I'm the old guy on the far left in front of the guy holding the camera.

The camera crew and reporter was intrigued with my man style knitting bucket I brought my guitar neck cozy to share as my men's knitting example.

I hope the segment turns out well for A Mano yarn shop and I don't look of as uncomfortable as I felt.

We enjoyed a wonderful evening with the other men and had dinner at Mao's Kitchen Chinese Restaurant afterwards.

The sock that never ends.

I am trying to knit my first pair of socks for the 3rd or 4th time.

These socks have been hanging around and pestering me as long time UFOs since last year. Beautiful Koigu KPPPM in a deep red/black color. For those of you long time readers this is a re-run.

They began their lives on two 24" circulars. I may have bit off too much for my first pair and then putting them aside for too long to work on other projects and buy yarn instead of using what I have. We love to buy yarn so will never change. Until the lack of specifics in the directions created too many errors and repeated tinking, I scrapped the attempt to try the more conventional method of DP needles. Wednesday night I was half finished with the heel and it went south quickly. We determined their was an error in the book on row 3 of the turn heel. It called for a purl row and it should have been a knit row.

It was unseasonably hot here last weekend. 96F in Early March

We took a drive to the beach with our knitting and ended up at Alamitos Bay. This is primarily a boat harbor with a few parks on the edges.

Driving past Huntington Beach and the Temp dropped 20 degs

We passed this guy on his motorcycle on the ride down Pacific Coast Highway.

Never a dull moment with all the not so normal people around here. 1st time to see a spike studded helmet.

I had to show you this beautiful 1967 Corvette parked in the harbor parking lot.

We arrive at our place to relax in the shade.

Well it's back to the cuff after some attempts to repair. The sock will never win.

This is why we live in California, Sitting outside on a bench watching

the boats cruise by in the harbor in early March wearing shorts and flip flops.

And Monday it's past the heel finally and it's around and around and around we go. I have size 15US or 49Eu size feet so it may be a day or so till I reach the toe. I know I'm close... The end is in sight. Bring on the next pair.

As of Sunday morning it looks like this

I know I should knit more but I have been really busy at work and my knitting takes a back seat sometimes when I get home.

Finally finished the guitar neck cover. I added the lining to prevent the tuning keys from snagging on the wool. I bought the fabric months ago but I wanted to finish it.

it started a few months ago in this post. http://twistedknitster.blogspot.com/search?q=Natalie+Wood

I ended up running it through the washer one time to try felting it a little and then I had to block it using my newly purchased blocking wires.

I needed to create a sleeve within a sleeve.

A little sewing and the a little tacking into place inside the cover and it looks wonderful!

Complete at last.

Just a little shopping on a lazy Sunday Afternoon.

We are have unseasonably warm weather for the 1st week in March. The plan for the day was to hit the beach but the clouds were covering the sun even though we had 80 degree temps. So we dropped the netflix at the post office and went shopping. We ended up at Fashion Island to look around at all the people. The fun started in the parking lot with a license plate frame that caught my eye. (apologies to the blondes who may be offended)



Love love love to window shop and today I saw this stunning blue silk dress with a stain on the front. I should have taken a picture before I walked in and talked to the sales lady who immediately pulled it from the window. As we continued on to one of my favorite windows to admire, Betsy Johnson. Summer fashions are out and the colors are wonderful.








And what would the fashions be without shoes? I know they don't really go with the dresses but I'm sure they would have a problem with me taking pictures in the shop after all this is just window shopping.

Not sure if I like the bamboo hand bags yet. I know the shiny orange leather wouldn't be my choice of accent trim.

Ended up at Barnes & Noble book store to look at knitting books and pick up the latest guitar magazine. I did find a great one skein wonder book to help thin out the stash.

I see this coming by mail from knit Picks really soon.

Always a great day when you can end it with beautiful sunset

When obsessions collide

Today we went to the gem show at the Orange County Fairgrounds just to looks at all the bobbles and jewels. I have plans to make some stitch markers for the next SP exchange.

If you know us then you would also know that my obsessions are not the only ones in our home. Knitting, yarn, music and guitars are the only ones Ive discussed on this blog. Mrs. Twisted recently completed her certification as a gemologist and we have attended many gem shows to learn and admire the various gems of the world.

Lurkers on this blog will have seen the stash reorganization. Ikea Billy bookcases used for yarn storage. We plan to add the glass doors after we add the next set of bookcases. Well today we saw something to dress up the plain Ikea furniture. While walking through the show we saw a booth that didn't really fit the show. This booth would have fit in perfectly at a high end home improvement show. They sell gemstone door handles for entry doors and drawer pulls. Well the connection was made. We are going to put the glass doors on the yarn cases and we found the door pulls that will be the perfect accessory. I bought one as a sample that will end up being a coat hook.




The pictures are a Moss Agate coat hook that was a nice looking sample and available at the show. The yarn door pulls may be different gem stones. The pictures below are of door pulls for full size doors and we will order drawer pulls to fit the yarn cases. Why not class up the yarn with gem stones?

Rose quartz,

Carnelian,

Labradorite,

Amethyst

They all look so pretty.


http://doorjewels.com/products.html

FO coming on the next post. Yes there is some knitting going on here.

Pub knitting growing each meeting

This last meeting of the OC Pub knitters was the best one yet.

Sarah and Teresa left before the picture was taken and we had a new member just walk in and ask if she can join us. We had 8 people there this time! It's so exciting, our little group is growing. We have 21 on the site now and it's growing each week.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrangeCountyPubKnitters/?yguid=209854102

Check out Bree's newly finished sweater made from hand dyed yarn. Amanda had a beautiful top on that looked hand knit but she said she bought it from Anthropology. We love Anthropology! Debbie was sporting double velour, bustier and jacket. Nothing better than to knit and share with friends. Thanks Bree for the wonderful gathering of nice people to knit with.

I also had a package waiting for me tonight. I bought the continental knitting DVD. They ran out of these at the show and this was shipped since she returned to Oregon.

http://www.knittingkorner.com/dvdhowtoknit.html

Secret pal 10 info

Here is my Secret Pal #10 questionnaire
This is my 2nd time doing the secret Pal.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I prefer to knit with something that I would wear next to my skin. I prefer silk or silk blends, cashmere and cashmere blends. My favorite yarns are:
Capistrano Fiber Arts 100% silk available from La Petite Knitterie
Alchemy Silk Purse
Debbie Bliss 100% silk Twisted Sisters Voodoo Malabrigo Merino I also Love local hand dyed yarn wherever I travel. Please no acrylic
See my Stash flickr for my current stash inventory

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?A special coupon holder that works very well as a Addi Turbo circular holder. The Knit Picks circulars came with a nice zippered binder
I have a Namaste Vintage bag that holds my straight needles.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I started 15 months ago and I consider myself a budding intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I will post it on my blog soon.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.) Heavy or flowery, fruity scents don’t work for me. I prefer very lite clean scents. By the way I’m 6’5" and really don’t fit in the tub very well….

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? See’s Dark Chocolate, Dove Dark Chocolate

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I have a drop spindle and I want to purchase a spinning wheel soon. We have dyed a little and enjoy it whne needed for certain projects.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love Music, from Brian Setzer to Sinatra to NOFX to Alan Jackson to Weezer to SRV etc. Rock, Punk, Ska, New Wave, Blues, Standards, Swing. really perfer local/regional or unsigned bands …………….I will have a music list posted on my blog as well...... I have some updating to do I guess

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
My favorite is Purple and Purple variations, I have a deep Purple couch. Fan of the Jeweltones, anything deep and rich in color,reds, burgandy/magenta, deep blues and dark emerald greens and Teal! Sheen goes along way in my book. I don’t care for the pea soup/ army greens and muddy brown/orange colors.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Very happily married to my best friend and soul mate. Two wonderful teenage children living in AZ with their mom. Son 17, Daughter 14 No pets

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Poncho… nope sorry. I live in So Ca so the hat season is thin and the gloves are not practical. I sometimes wear a hat or scarf if it’s cold and we walk some evenings on the beach.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I’m still learning so I haven’t tried everything yet.

13. What are you knitting right now?
I have a Mitered square rug in Manos almost finished, a pair of socks mid way in Koigu Merino, Flickering flame Lace Skirt in Blue Heron on hold until I finish a Cherry bomb Tank from big Girl Knits.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
I love hand made gifts, it shows some creativity and thought.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Here we go again; first of all I’m a guy, I love the tools. I bought clover circulars for my first project and gifted them as soon as I tried Addi Turbos. I prefer Ebony,and Rosewood needles by Holz & Stein when I can find them. I bought the new Knit Picks Options in september and love them too. I will post a needle list and flickr pad on my blog. No plastic needles here. I know, I know yarn snob and needle snob too..

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
But of course.. See # 15 for reason and see #2 for picture. I have a Oregon wood worker cherry wood yarn swift and royal ball winder http://wood.charlestree.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=35
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I just cast on the skirt and it's the oldest project.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas, I love the shopping for just the perfect gift. Seeing the surprise on the face when the recipient opens the gift and loves the item.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Yarn, Needles, Guitars, Music, Christmas ornaments and Refrigerator magnets.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I will amend this soon

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Continental Knitting

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I'm learning Men’s US size 15 Eur size 49.5 (what do you expect, I'm 6'5" tall) Bare foot is 12 ½" long. I will have a dimensioned foot print on the blog shortly

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
10/05