Smitten Kitten Originals Handmade Scarves & Other Obsessions

Just Finished Reading: Post-Human

2012-02-01T08:24:00.000-05:00

Post-Human by David Simpson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A quick read because you can't stop turning the pages (or tapping the Kindle). I liked the scifi aspect but didn't much like the characters. Perhaps there wasn't enough time to get to know them & care deeply about them. I spent a lot of time wishing for Thel's demise & James irritated me as well. These two have a romance that renders them juveniles. All rational thought & the experience of their years falls to the wayside & it's not fun to watch. Possibly this is because we're just repeatedly told they're in love but never find out why, so all the desperation, even after an apocalypse, feels hollow & tedious. Additionally, for the majority of the book, there didn't seem to be any other reason for Thel to be, other than to tell James that she couldn't lose him & wouldn't live without him. Don't tarry, Thel. Go! Do! I did buy & enjoy the connection between Old-timer & Alejandra. I was torn on how that ended.

Also, it felt a bit false when everyone in the group, who all have IQs of 149 or so, completely defer all decision making after the catastrophe to James & asked the most banal questions of him. Seriously, none of them but James knew about the existence of maps & atlases? The library? The magnetic field of Mercury? I felt like they should have had more to contribute to the decisions but they really had nothing to offer. I don't care if James is the guy with the additional 50 IQ points, they know they're not imbeciles & are some of the best in their fields. I expected more of them. And James didn't have a perfect record of decision making, so he could have used the input. I suppose I wanted to feel that these people were smarter than me & I would spend a lot of time saying "Ah, yes. I see." when they divulged some prolific idea. Instead I rolled my eyes a lot & thought "Come on guys, break out those brain cells & dazzle me with your brilliance." They seemed to be able to get along well enough when James was incapacitated so why nothing before?

I liked everything with the Purists (though I couldn't understand why the group found the fact that they were meat eaters a problem when it's shown that the first meal James eats in the book is a bagel with a poached egg. Animal products as food, replicated or not, shouldn't be squickifying.). There were some genuine chuckle moments with the barbs both groups tossed at one another. I found Thel, Rich & Djanet really grated on my nerves when they were with the Purists. They were so put off by the Purists & thought themselves so superior I was yelling "But they didn't get their asses handed to them, save five, by the AI, did they?"

The author did excel at giving a sense of place & described the AI to chilling clarity. I very much enjoyed that. The description of the aftermath of the catastrophe was quite vivid & while I don't want to sound like a gory girl, I liked it. I very much enjoyed all the interaction with the AI. Well done. Poor Katherine, but so well done! Altogether, I gave this four stars because even though I had some problems with the main characters, I was compelled to keep reading because I wanted to know how it would resolve. I thought the resolution was a bit too safe & happy but there are worse things in the world. I would have liked deeper reflection from the core group we follow on the flaws inherent in their world, especially after having experienced the Purists.

I would definitely read the next installment because I think the story is one worth following (& there were elements that reminded me of Dune: The Butlerian Jihad & the short lived Caprica series. Joy.).

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Past Read: Downbelow Station (Company Wars, #1)

2012-02-01T08:21:00.001-05:00

Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of my favorite scifi novels of all time. Cherryh gives a vivid portrayal of the conflict, claustrophobia & chaos on the station as events play out. Also, I very much like how she writes strong female characters. They're not over-the-top substitutions for males & are instead wholly believable as women, flawed & all.

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Just Finished: The Bluestocking Girl (The Von Strassenberg Saga, #2)

2012-01-30T10:59:00.000-05:00

The BlueStocking Girl by Gwenn Wright

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If it weren't for William Drexler III (who for some reason, is not called Will or Tripp by anyone) & his family's backstory, I would not have made it through. I quite liked William in the first installment & was glad to find he would be taking us forward this time. Learning about what ails his psyche was a good time. The courtship of his parents & what became of his mother were all bits that added to figuring out who William is. And we got to see more of Abbie. I was glad of that because from the brief intro to her character in Filter, I'd hoped (& thought) that there was a story there. She's more a peer of William even though he's drawn to Rocky. And after Rocky-the-Wishy-Washy in Filter, I was happy to see William stick to what he said & extricate himself from the "complication" that their relationship was turning into. That's not a total slam to Rocky, she's had a lot going on & needs time to sort herself out. She can seek out William after she's a little more settled. Anyway, I was still left with wanting to know more about what makes William, The Second, tick. I imagine there's more to come on that front & the whole Drexler situation as we proceed through the saga & given how this book ended, there had better be!

Now for what I didn't like. Maria Smythe! Not since Bella Swan have I so wanted to tell a girl to shut up! I did not like her. I tried & then I decided that she wasn't doing enough for me to try so hard. Her voice was irritating & her constant derision & condescension for anyone who wasn't what she thought was exactly worthy wore on me fairly early. She never seemed interested in helping anyone to see her point of view, she'd already decided they weren't worth the energy. Self-involved much, Maria? She spent the vast majority of the book making the point that Henrietta & Katie are basically twits & have never been on her side (hence the reinforcement of she & Viktor against the world) & then when things go sideways, she's all "two more of the five people I've cherished most in life are now gone from my life too". She never sounded like she cherished them one bit so I didn't believe it & didn't empathize. I also didn't believe the one time Maria mentions that she & Katie though different, had always been the best of allies. It does not coalesce with anything else she tells us about her sister & their relationship throughout the entire book & didn't ring true. Honestly, I feel badly that Maria is Katherine's legacy. Katherine deserved better.

And then there's Viktor. I so loved him in Filter & this time around I found that I didn't like him very much. I wanted to give Viktor the benefit of the doubt but honestly, so much of what happened to he & Katherine in Filter was due to secrets being kept & his desire to "shelter & protect". We all know how badly that ended the first time so, that he was once again in that wheelhouse put me off. I understand it's a complex situation but it's been eighteen or so years & he's had plenty of time for reflection & introspection to have identified where things went wrong & what could have been a better course. Why he didn't display any growth in this way is beyond me. He had sense enough to be cautious & give Maria the chance to be a modern woman who is able to make her own way in the world but no clarity on giving her information that he knows may make the difference in her safety & possible survival from the horror that is Klaus von Strassenberg. WHAT?!!

Then there's Viktor's obvious disdain for Henrietta, (who I will freely admit was a pill in Filter) & his own daughter. Apparently Henrietta didn't grow one iota in the eighteen years that have elapsed either. Not after having been on the run with Viktor & baby Maria in the initial days of their escape in Filter or ever after. By all accounts, she is still only concerned with balls, money & marrying well & is living vicariously through her daughter Katie now. None of the tragedy of Katherine's life has made any lasting impression on her though she's been in necessary but self-imposed exile from the Demure family, lo these many years & is on board with Viktor's escape plan should they ever need to employ it. Again... WHAT?! Maybe this is to justify Viktor's dismissive tone with her & their daughter but I didn't like it. It felt like he scorned his own daughter for not being Katherine's & lavished all his attention & effort on Maria. When the guy is dying & all his thoughts revolve solely around Maria & none on how his own progeny will fare after his demise,<.spoiler> I don't have a lot of sympathy to dole out. Sorry.

The little of Henrietta & Katie we actually get to witness is at the very end & I didn't think either of them was so terrible. It is possible to like clothes, shoes & parties & still be a capable woman. Maybe it's written so black & white because the characters are on the cusp of changing society but it gets tedious to have such myopically deep sides drawn by narrative characters. As to Katie, I found lots of empathy for this fourteen year old girl in the brief time we see her near the end. She didn't need a lot of time to make me care & honestly, I was relieved that we finally get the answer to the Drexler association. I hope to see her again in future installments.

All in all, I gave this 4 out of 5 stars because I still very much like the story & have grown attached to some of the characters. There were fewer typos & errors in this Kindle version than in the first, so that was welcome. It could still do with a bit of clean up but it's a lot better. I look forward to the next installment & hope to see the characters grow & evolve. I would like less mention of eye color & physical size with the characters we already know. If it's mentioned once for new characters, readers should pick up on the significance at this point in the saga & it just becomes repetitive annoyance, especially when the character is going on about their own physical traits (see: Maria). The mysteries are still unfolding & we're at quite a cliffhanger so I'm very interested in how it all works out.

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Past Read: The Memoirs of Cleopatra

2012-01-28T19:11:00.001-05:00

The Memoirs Of Cleopatra by Margaret George

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the best historical fictions of Cleopatra that I've ever read. I was instantly in that place with her & instantly became a forever fan of Margaret George. Over the years, I have lent out about 4 copies & wound up re-purchasing this book 4 different times. It is that phenom. Even though it's a tome, it's a very quick read.

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The Event & Hawaii Five-0: Will We Be BFFs or Frienemies?

2010-09-20T10:01:00.001-04:00

Starting new relationships is never easy, whether with people or
television shows. You see that new prospect in the glance of a promo
that piques your interest and immediately you think of all the past
relationships that went oh so wrong... and the others that so worked
out. You make the fateful decision. Will you steal away with this new
one for a rendezvous? Possibly even putting your steady, reliable on
DVR hold for your tryst? The new is all unknown and excitement. Full
of nothing but great expectations. It could be another great time. You
make the date. You tune in for the pilot & it's better than pretty
good. You adore it. Sure, maybe it's the drinks you've had that help
to gloss over the fact that this may not be a perfect union afterall.
You rationalize through the cringeworthy that it's just the first date
and it could work itself out. As time goes on though, you find that
you're the one doing all the real work in the relationship. You make
the excuses. You're annoyed when the story they're handing you tests
the limits of your credulity because you can tell they didn't even
take time to bother to tell you a cohesive story... or they think
you're an idiot that's unable to remember details from week to week.
Either way, it's not a good sign. And sometimes, they pull things that
make you wonder if they're bipolar because it seems they clearly don't
remember what they say from week to week. But, if you're like me, you
don't bail... like many others do. Because you've put in time and you
need to see it though. Now you're caught in the bad relationship where
the only thing that's going to set you free is the Network Cops who
can issue your new and highly flawed STS (significant tv show) a
sentence of cancellation from on high. And when they do, you'll simper
a bit but know deep down that it's for the best... because you hadn't
the strength to walk away on your own, no matter how dysfunctional.
And then comes the summer and you're out again after having consoled
yourself with lots of time with your steadies because they fulfilled
all their promises to you & were granted an additional season. You're
flipping though channels or driving on the expressway and you see
another new promo. And you're back at square one.

Tonight is the premiere of NBC's The Event and I'm going to tune in.
Of course. Please don't let it pull a FlashForward on me... I'm still
not fully recovered from the frustration & annoyance.

And in other television news, I'll be tuning in to CBS for Hawaii
Five-0. That's right, it took Daniel Dae Kim & Grace Park to even get
me to remotely care about a show on CBS (yes, I am still annoyed about
Jericho). Someone must have clued in that Lost + BSG= Awesome... or
that since my weekly John Cho dose is gone (FlashForward) I'd need
something else to sigh over. So, for now, thank you to CBS. Here's
hoping that if I love it, the rest of the CBS core audience doesn't
hate it so I don't have to endure another heartbreak like Jericho...
or Harper's Island.

I need to catch up on Rubicon & Mad Men as I missed them last night.
Football got in the way. Sons of Anarchy is still so perfect &
Jax/Tara are crazy awesome. Tara is a woman I understand. When her man
brings the crazy talk, she simply tells him he's not making sense,
rips a room apart & then brings it all back around by basically
telling him that they're both getting off the crazy train he bought
tickets for. Oh, would that Zoey & Nicole have been the same type of
chicas that could have broken it down for the men in their lives,
possibly FlashForward could have had a future that I would have cared
to see. Clay/Gemma still make me go squee. The Jax/Opie bromance gets
me like Adama/Tigh always did. Love. I still want Stahl to pay but I
don't want her gone. She's my SoA version of Lost's AnaLucia. I can't
believe Hale is gone & I don't trust his bro one bit. Shady
McBackstabber... I just know it. Okay, so I've one little question...
Where the hell is Otto?! I miss him & still kinda miss Luanne. And I
still miss Half but the SAMCRO casket he was sent off in was crazy
cool.

So here's to the hope held when about to embark on a new show. May it
be more awesome than cringeworthy & more kickass than WTF?! And should
it fall short, let the pain be numbed by the cable networks which
never fail to deliver.

California by Post For a Bodacious Bath

2010-09-16T09:14:00.002-04:00

California by Post For a Bodacious Bath
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

My latest stash of Bathlife Bath & Body treats arrived in the post yesterday afternoon! So excited! The only thing that's had me holding off on this order was the mad heat we've had this summer। Melted bath & body is no fun. The temp slipped just below the 90s & that was my cue to place an order. Yayness! It's like having a delivery of California in my post box. I've been addicted to Kimberlee of Bathlife's products since 2006 & I don't see that stopping anytime soon. If it weren't for going all pruney, I'd find a way to spend all day in the bath with these. ;)

Clockwise: Silken Body Butter, SugarBaby Body Polish Bars, Back In Flight Handmade Soap (2oz), Newport Ave Handmade Soap (2oz), Skin Perfume Oil, At Venice & Pacific Perfume Oil

PEYTON- Wool Infinity Cowl Green Moss Brass Buttons

2010-09-07T07:45:00.002-04:00

PEYTON- Wool Infinity Cowl Green Moss Brass Buttons
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

I loved the greens used in the yarn I used for this cowl, I wish I had more but alas I do not. The brass buttons just add an extra bit of awesome.

Summer is Leaving on Track 2

2010-09-05T16:58:00.001-04:00

Waiting for the train
Originally uploaded by aleman

And autumn is fast approaching. Time for pumpkin breads & lattes. Chills on the air and sweaters & scarves. I've a ton of cool things I've made just for this time of years, so stay tuned. :)

And We're Back!!

2010-08-25T07:51:00.007-04:00

Summer isn't over yet but it feels like it is. Time to get back to the 'tique and this seriously neglected blog. It's going to be changed up a bit though. I'm thinking a little more television chat.

And speaking of television... Flashforward was cancelled. And honestly, I can't say I was upset. As I said from the outset, it had some awesome and some severely cringeworthy. Apparently, many found the awesome not enough to excuse the cringeworthy and I can't blame them. In storylines I cared about, Janis and Demetri made a baby behind Zoey's back. Zoey, understandably found this to be a damper on the wedding plans & relationship in general with Demetri. She headed off to Hawaii for some sun & solace. And Bryce, went stunningly and infuriatingly stupid a mere 4 hours before the time seen in the flashes and tells Nicole he's been mistaken, he's not in love with her, it's all about Keiko. Mind you, this is after plenty of time spent kissing Nicole & not giving a thought to Keiko for quite a while. This of course had the terrible consequence of cancelling out the good feelings of the original flash with Keiko because now we know that Bryce is a raging asshat. Luckily, Nicole didn't die, so there was that. But Keiko didn't get any actual lines to say when she finally met Bryce, so that kinda sucked. It closes out with much love for the women in love with Bryce & hopes that both of them would have totally gotten over him in subsequent seasons. I was always pulling for Emil/Keiko anyway. Flashforward giveth & taketh away & so did ABC. I think we're all better for the latter.

I'm currently back onto Mad Men & now Rubicon (loving this one). More on those later. And I'm eagerly awaiting the new season of Sons of Anarchy. Against my better judgment I'm going to give NBC's The Event a try. I'm telling myself now that I'm not going to care or like it too much, so I don't feel burned when the cancellation edict comes down. *sigh*

Now, to 'tique business, there's tons to come including new designs and really great photos of them. This bit will take days but do stay tuned.

In 'Tique News

2010-04-11T08:41:00.001-04:00

I've taken a little downtime on the shop after the mad winter season
passing but I've tons to get into the online shops this week. Busy
times and all climes will be featured in the offerings so stay tuned.
Additionally, I'm still working through my massive yarn stash & coming
up with more yarny goodness. Stay tuned!

This Week On FlashForward: Boy With Bad Timing Kisses Girl, Girl Kinda Freaks, Boy Isn't Sorry

2010-04-11T08:24:00.002-04:00

Okay, first the major squee moment happened on this week's
FlashForward: BRYCE KISSED NICOLE! And it wasn't some lame kiss, it
was of the face grab/cradled variety. It reminded me a little of
Ben/Felicity.... *sigh* good times, but I digress.

It was perfect in execution & all I could say was "OMFG Bryce, Frakkin
Finally!" This of course was after my husband and I had been going
back and forth about whether or not this date they were on was in fact
a date or just an outing between friends. He was sure Bryce was not
only still clueless about his own feelings but also with regard to
reading Nicole all this time & that dinner was just dinner between
platonic friends. I considered the source this opinion was coming from
and decided that while entirely wrong, it was understandable. My
husband was a Bryce at one time and seemed to be under the impression
that I was spending all my free time with him simply because I liked
him solely as a friend, so much so that he was surprised when I
accepted when he asked me out on a real date. Having had this history,
I remained steadfast that Bryce has clearly been in denial but
somewhere inside, he's known that the platonic ship foundered on some
jetty a while ago, so all that needed to be done was wait for him to
just own it and see where it takes him.

It took them to Little Tokyo and their usual good banter complete with
Bryce likening Sea Urchin to "eating someone's thyroid" (we aren't
going to wonder too long about what late night drinking game in Med
School helped him come up with that example, mkay.) and Nicole
refusing to explain to him what a Magwai is. I'm simply horrified he
lived such a deprived childhood that he never saw Gremlins, but that's
a whole other thing. Anyway, at the core of all this banter was
Flash-girl Keiko (whom they're referring to by name now, though they
never firmed that it was indeed her name, but I won't nitpick), who
unbeknownst to Bryce/Nicole was actually inside the restaurant with
her new boss and friend Emil (he helped out Dylan Simcoe on Halloween,
remember?) kicking back a few sakis and chilling in general. Back
outside, Bryce pretty much puts the kybosh on the sushi for dinner
thing and Nicole asks him what he wants to do instead. There's this
sweet look that passes and then Bryce goes in for the kiss.

Sublime. Epic. Squeeworthy. *le friggin sigh*

I could swear that Nicole is having one of those toe-curling moments
for a second or two and then she comes to her senses and freaks a
little and goes on about Bryce kissing her while he's thinking of
another woman and she's just not down with that.

My heart sinks just a little as I yell at the television "OMFG NICOLE! COME ON!"

And then I miss some things, because now I'm yelling "BRYCE, you're
awesome BUT YOUR TIMING IS FOR SHIT!", but catch that there's some
awkwardness between the two of them and some kind of mutual agreement
that they'll just move on like it didn't happen & instead of sushi,
Bryce is to take Nicole out for a burger. And if the rest of this date
isn't fic worthy then nothing is.

Okay, so many other cool non-Bryce/Nicole things happen... and frankly
some not so cool things (ICE Agents, anyone? GRR!) and then we get the
last moment of the ep on the Bryce/Nicole front. He calls her the next
morning (gets voicemail) and starts to apologize for having kissed
her. I'm immediately sure that this will be the moment my ship runs
aground. But Bryce stops in the middle of his apology and says he's
not sorry at all that he's kissed her but he hopes that they're still
cool. And the look on his face was just so adorable. *le sigh* I took
a moment to think about Nicole's face when she listens to his message.
*le sigh again* The ship still sails!

So now the ball is in Nicole's court. Here's hoping next week they'll
realize they've found One Love in each other. And better timing for
both because April 29th is fast approaching & I'm still hoping Bryce
handcuffs her to him that day no matter what else happens.

Flash Forward (Thursday 8PM EST, ABC)

Flash Forward: I Didn't See Bryce/Nicole!

2010-03-26T08:00:00.006-04:00

So this week's episode of Flash Forward was pretty awesome, even if there wasn't any sign of Bryce/Nicole (in my shipper fantasy, they were off having coffee and counting pennies from 1989). There was plenty of Demetri/Zoey so I loved every minute of it. Zoey spent most of her time working the problem of Dem being killed in the future and trying to stop it. Of course, as she's scared out of her mind of loosing him, she's cutting a deal with batshit terrorist chica to get the info. And I totally get that & adore her for it. Of course, she also spent a lot of time ticking off Dem & Wedek. Yeah, it wasn't pretty and way tense. Yikes!

It seems this back half of the season has picked up in intensity but still has hallmarks of things that were fairly awesome from the first part. It was a happy reminder to see Demetri and Janis kick back with a couple beers and talk. I'd completely forgotten they're close friends since their academy days. Loved that. Marc and Lloyd continued down their awkward path revolving around D. Gibbons, the Q.E.D & the possible future Olivia swap. This is most painful to witness, btw.

I don't trust Vogel any further than I can throw him & I don't see that changing any time soon. Dude is just sketchy, but he annoys Mark so that's reason enough for him to remain. Wedek is still stressed out and one of my favorite people trying to wrangle his agents and get something done. Aaron had some lapse in judgment I've yet to understand & divulged Tracy's whereabouts to her ex-guy and the next thing we know, Tracy's put in a box and shipped out. No literally, she was put in a cardboard box, sealed up & sent on her way! Aaron had a whole epic arc thing happening after that & I'm pretty sure that next we see him, he'll be traversing Khandahar to get his girl back. Oh it's so on!

So basically, I'm hoping the show scores a renew because I'm loving it & can't wait for next week. Hopefully Bryce & Nicole will be on screen having a coffee or a sweet chat over some pennies or medical supplies. I'm not too picky. ;)

Flash Forward (Thursday 8PM EST, ABC)

In the 'tique: ARIA Spring/ Summer Infinity Scarves

2010-03-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

I've finally gotten around to taking photos of the lightweight infinity scarves I've done. I love these for their feel & color. The Aria is very much about feminine colors, though I do know guys who can just as easily rock yellow & coral as any chica. These are perfect indoors and out & work as a year round accessory.

ARIA- Lightweight Infinity Scarf Solid Yellow Lemon Bar

ARIA- Lightweight Infinity Scarf Solid Coral

Sundays Are For...

2010-03-21T11:45:00.003-04:00

Breakfast. Out or at home. This weekend we had breakfast at home, so it was all about pancakes (yes, that's my own Mt. Pancake up there in the photo), bacon & the hubs mega awesome coffee. Newspapers. Books. Episodes of The Universe on History Channel in the background. And anticipation of Life on Discovery Channel this evening (you've got to watch it!) A moment to breathe and renew for the coming week.

Find your balance & embrace the quiet.

In My Kitchen: Chicken and Dumplings

2010-03-18T08:00:00.005-04:00

Get out your stock pot, it's time to whip up some awesome!

I made this last night because I'd half a poached chicken taunting me from the second shelf of the refrigerator. Add in some pantry & frozen ingredients and I was a dinnertime heroine!

Don't be intimidated by the dumplings in this recipe, it's ridiculous how simple they are to make. How? Self-rising flour, of course. ;) I use self-rising flour because I'm a Northern chica & this is how mi madre makes it. The salt & baking powder are already in it, so that's 3 ingredients & a step already taken care of. We're already halfway to fluffy, heavenly dumpling-mania.

For the chicken soup bit you will need:

1/2 poached chicken, cubed 2 large cans (49.5oz mega size) of chicken broth (unless you're extra awesome & have that much homemade broth on hand)

1/2 medium onion, diced
1 bag (32oz) frozen peas & carrots
2 tbsp butter
2/3 cup of flour (regular, not self-rising)
1 tsp poultry seasoning
salt, pepper & garlic to taste

Melt butter in a pot and add flour. On medium/high heat whisk together until you have a crumbly consistency. Whisk in 1 can of chicken broth until all the crumbs are incorporated in the liquid & the mixture is smooth.
Add diced onions & the other can of broth, cover & bring to a simmer.
Add salt, pepper & garlic to taste.
Add chicken & frozen peas & carrots
Cover & bring to a boil & then reduce to a simmer & stir in poultry seasoning.

While the above is simmering, make the dumplings. This recipe makes between 18-20 dumplings, by the way. Here's what you'll need:

2 cups self-rising flour 4 tbsp butter (softened to room-temperature)
1 cup 2% milk, cold
1 dash dried parsley

With flour in a bowl, add parsley & cut in the butter.
Stir in milk with a fork until a moist dough forms. Use a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl to make sure you get everything mixed in.

Now that your chicken/vegetable broth is at a decent simmer, it's time to add the dumplings! Make sure it's not boiling though. You don't want your dumplings to disintegrate.

Use a teaspoon to measure your dumplings & drop them from the teaspoon into the pot. I don't recommend using tablespoons for this recipe, they'll be ginormous. Even if your dumplings look small when you're dropping them in, worry not! These will seriously double as they cook.
Once you've dropped all your dumplings in the pot, cover tightly with the lid and let them cook for 10 minutes. Don't peek! They'll be fine & they don't need you.
After 10 minutes, check on your lovelies for doneness by poking with the end of a sharp knife. Clean knife = done dumplings (just like when you bake a cake).

Pull up a bowl. Break out a spoon. Bask in the raves.

A Moment For Simple Pleasures

2010-03-17T11:34:00.001-04:00

The sun is finally shining brightly against a blue sky after a long
snowy winter & more recently a week's worth of rain, wind and clouds.
I'm thrilled! So today I'm all about taking a moment and taking in the
simple and sweet things of life. I will be indulging in reading a book
by sunlight. Find your simple & sweet indulgence & rock your day!

Besos!

What I've Been Up To: Striped Infinity Scarves

2010-03-16T10:15:00.002-04:00

So it's pretty clear that I'm an infinity scarf addict. Love them,
love to make them & love to wear them. Anyway, I'd been wanting to do
something a little bit different with them so I came up with striped
versions. No-brainer, right? I love them & one of the best things
about them, they're even more versatile with dual complimentary
colors. The grey & black was like, the ultimate for me because it's
two of my favorite colors & pretty much goes with anything in my
wardrobe (not that the same couldn't be said for a good number of
other people). The red & black was inspired by Helena Bonham Carter's
Queen of Hearts in Burton's Alice In Wonderland. It also kinda reminds
me of Halloween & Freddy Kruger but that's not macabre at all. Right?

Spring Renewal

2010-03-15T13:07:00.003-04:00

Well, it's been a while since I posted on this blog & I've been missing it. So, new layout for springtime & I've been very busy with my yarn stash. I've lots of pictures to post of newness and some of the shows I've been following are returning (Flash Forward, V, Melrose Place, Vampire Diaries) and I'm sure I'll have a thing or three to say about those.

Spring is the time of renewal and inspiration, so it bodes well. Now I'm off to have lunch & try to adjust to Daylight Savings Time a bit more.

Look Out Yarn, I'm Coming For You!

2010-01-26T09:21:00.003-05:00

I went on a yarn buying jag on Sunday. For some reason every time I go on a yarn binge, it's a Sunday & it's for hours. I've no idea why that is but it prompted me to think of something with regard to the yarn stash I currently reside with.

What if I could use all my yarn? Like really, make something out of all available skeins. I'm a little scared & excited at the prospective results of such an endeavor. I'm always either writing or working with yarn so why not see what I could do? I can honestly say that for all the yarn I've in my possession, I had a plan or three for all of them, so I think it may be time to just see those plans come to fruition.

I'll be posting pictures of the things I make here & on Flickr, so stay tuned for more on that. Currently, I've 3 things I need to photograph. I was in a crochet frenzy this weekend.

And now a word about NaNoWriMo 2009... I won! Yay! I need to post my little winner banner but I needed to share that I hit just over 52K. Of course the story is not even remotely over & since it was a prequel to a current story I'm working on it provided me with a lot of background on my characters. All the specifics on that are over on my LJ.

Besos!

Snow Patrol: Winter Storm 2009

2009-12-19T11:00:00.001-05:00

Snow Patrol: Winter Storm 2009
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

So we have a bit of snow falling today. Even if we're stuck in the city this weekend, it's not bad to look at. Visibility is seriously bad, so we made pancakes & coffee. ;)

Hope you're enjoying the weather where you are.

Besos!
xoxo

NaNoWriMo Approaches

2009-10-20T09:11:00.006-04:00

And I've got a good many things done in preparation for this month long noveling frenzy.

Plot- done
Characters- done
Subplots- still honing two
Title- done
Cute little banner- done (up at the top of this post. Yay!)

Now the only thing I'm on the outs about is the format in which to tell this madness. Okay, yes obviously you could say "As a novel, duh." But the thing is, I think I don't want to tell it in the same novel format as usual. I'm feeling more like I want to tell it in a more creative way. A series of vignettes in which my characters do what they do while the plot emerges organically over time, maybe. Or maybe a huge number of ficlets with the same end. Unified but still somewhat standalone.

I need to have a think.

It's almost November, do you know where your plot is? Go find it & also make sure to drop in at the NaNoWriMo site. I'm Anissa over there.

Besos! xoxo

When Infinity Scarves Sell Out

2009-10-14T08:11:00.003-04:00

It happens every year. There's always something that grabs the zeitgeist flag and runs away with regard to my shop. This year, it's the Samantha Infinity Scarves. Honestly, some haven't even made it to my online shops. I assure you, the sapphire blue was really pretty. ;)

So I'm working my phalanges off to restock & get more listed in my shop. And with that, I'm going to get back to work.

Besos! xoxo

Please don't lick the glass

2009-10-13T07:19:00.002-04:00

by Tomsimages.com on Flickr

There are times when a banana & coffee just aren't going to satisfy a person. I'm having one of those mornings & if I were anywhere near this place, it would so be on! ;)

I'm planning my Nanowrimo list of treats & while things like this aren't on it (though red velvet cupcakes will make an appearance) I've a feeling that I'll be stopping by Flickr to indulge in a little food porn now and then. Simply beautiful, no?

Besos! xoxo

Nanowrimo: The Place Is the Thing

2009-10-12T09:22:00.001-04:00

NaNoWriMo Hoodies Are Heaven
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

So I'm freezing & wearing my NaNoWriMo hoodie this morning & wondering about my story this year. I've been spending time with my characters and getting ever more clear about who they are & how they can be. I'm totally excited and can't wait to get started on this story.

My setting is the Pennsylvania mountains during autumn and winter & I can only surmise that it's in part because I've been missing those very things of late. The hubs has never been to the mountains (apparently a common thing for beach kids of Delaware), so later this month we're heading up for a quick jaunt. Yay! I can't wait. I plan on reacquainting myself with the feel of the place. I can almost see the heights and feel the brisk air on a nighttime walk. I plan on bringing back apples, plenty of foliage pics & more inspiration than I know what to do with.

What are you doing to set your location for Nanowrimo or what places inspire you to write?

TV: What I Thought About Last Week & What I'm About This Week

2009-09-29T06:18:00.001-04:00

Durham County (Mondays @ 10PM, Ion) aired last night & let me just say right now, Ray Prager is frakkin scary. Wholly & shockingly. I find that I have moments where I want to look away from Durham County but simply cannot. Yes, it's that good & addictive. The sub stories going on have pulled me in as well. Especially Det. Sweeney's daughter, Sadie . The entire cast is doing a phenom job & they've got me wanting more. When you have a moment where you need to remind yourself that the pang of empathy you're feeling is being spent on a malicious, womanizing serial killer, who's not even decent to his son & so stunningly narcissistic he can't get out of his own way, it's a darned fine story. I've no idea how many more bodies turn up in this season, but I'm in on this story no matter how much more gruesome the telling.

Sons of Anarchy (Tuesday @ 10PM, FX) is amazingly still off the chain. I'm waiting for Gemma to go off and kill Zobelle & his guys any minute because she is on the edge. I'm hoping she does something soon because if she doesn't mete out her revenge she may just go batsh*t & clean house at SAMCRO before too much longer. And I think Tig knows something's up. I'm worried about Opie and especially about his and Jax's relationship. I want nothing to interfere with the bromance. Tara is still a roxstar & I'm loving watching her find her way in her own way. Finally, when the heck is Prospect going to get in? ;)

Melrose Place (Tuesday @ 9PM, CW) I'm still watching for Ella & adore her. I still hate Riley, especially after last week's lip lock with Auggie (but their chemistry even got me! Whoa!). Drank too much... whatevs, Riley. Whatevs. <_< Jonah needs to cut this chick loose ASAP & make my Ella/Jonah ship a reality on screen. I still haven't a reason to care about Mini-Mancini (David) though Syd's daughter, Violet upped herself a notch with her skulking & lurking. Chick's creeping me out now. Lauren had kind of a blah last week, so hopefully she'll be dialed back in on interesting this week.

Vampire Diaries (Thursday @ 8PM, CW) is still pulling me in. The relationship between Stefan & Damon was dialed up a bit last week & the brochem is scary good. Elena is getting more interesting & just a little bit more bad*ss. Bonnie is vying to be my favorite secondary character. And the Elena/Bonnie relationship is almost as compelling to watch as the Damon/Stefan. I'm loving it! Sadly, I'm still a bit nonplussed with the Jeremy/Vicki/Tyler situation and if not for the fact that I like Vicki it would seriously be the storyline that got my "WhyTF should I care?!" award. It's not a slam on the actors, the storyline itself is just lacking for me & possibly is too laden down with teen angst for me to give a crap. I'm hoping that part improves because the rest of the show is very well done. And I'm waiting for the Stefan/Matt bromance to happen. I think I see the signs that it's coming along. Stefan needs another dude to hang with & he won't hang with Damon, so let the boy bonding begin!

Flash Forward (Thursday & Friday @ 8PM, ABC) is pretty good. Their time conflicted with Vampire Diaries on Thursday, so I had to catch it on Friday & I don't feel my hour was wasted. There's a lot of good, some highly reminiscent of Lost & a little cheese. Like I said, not an hour wasted. I won't spoil much from last week's ep but here's an example of each. The good: the performances & the setting. The reminiscent: the flash forward (albeit from the audience perspective), the Oceanic billboard, Lost alum actors, the hint of the ever-present yet seamless corporation Red Panda (oddly enough, using the same color scheme as Oceanic O_O) & the inexplicable but well lit & hinting at prescient visions (Jack saw Christian, our new hero saw a kanga & I'm hoping we're not going to have to add Australia to this list any time soon). The cheese: some of the CGI. Honestly, I'm not going to knock them on this one though. I still cringe at the sight of Lost's smoke monster & suffer from bouts of severely underwhelmed. I'll be tuning in again this week to see what's next for our... what shall we call them? Flashed? Forwards? Flasfoed? Just hasn't the same ring as Losties or Lostaways has it?

That's all for now & rest assured that I'll be watching & tweeting as I do.

Besos! xoxo

Yarn Love... Part Deux

2009-09-28T07:34:00.001-04:00

Well, here's more perfect yarn from Irish Meadows. I'm using it to make another custom Samantha Infinity Scarf & it's a true joy. Scrummy, yummy & sumptuous aren't enough to describe how soft this feels. I'm loving working with this. Srsly. I'll be sure to post pics of the finished Samantha when complete. This color is called Maroon.

Yarn Creation Confection Follows...

2009-09-21T07:28:00.010-04:00

Oh yes! It's all about the pretty with this custom Samantha & Evie for a fabulous customer of mine. She gave me the incredible opportunity of working with some phenomenal yarn.

The Samantha turned out perfectly. Apparently the 2-ply alpaca yarn actually rolled on it's own ever so slightly when I was making it, so the end result is just that much more lovely. It is seriously scrolling naturally. I just love that. Additionally, I extended the circumference a bit & made it just a little wider than the usual Samantha design. Mostly in an effort to counteract the 2-ply thinness but still achieve the same drape & warmth. It seriously all worked out.

There was additional yarn left over & I made this Evie as well. Posh yarn should always become a posh something or other, so Evie was a good decision. The drape of course is somewhat different than the usual Evie but it's just as sleep and very beautiful.

Anyway, it seems my adventure in yarn is not quite over as my customer has found another yarn from Irish Meadows that she's loving and would like to have made into an Evie. I'll be sure to post about that bit of posh yarn when it arrives. For now, enjoy the sumptuousness.

Besos!

Into Every Life A Little Fabulous Yarn Should Fall

2009-09-15T08:29:00.004-04:00

Every once in a while, something majorly cool happens. I get to work with yarn that I've not had to buy myself. It really doesn't get much better than that people. ;)

This yarn was shipped to me from a Irish Meadows Alpaca Farm at the request of my customer in order for me to make her a custom version of my Samantha infinity scarf. The color is Bay Black & I have to just say, it's simply a joy to work with. It's a 2-ply so is resulting in a different but still spectacular rendering of the Samantha. I'll post pics later this week when I've completed this confection.

Oh, one more cool thing, Irish Meadows sent 2 additional 100 yard skeins of a nice alpaca yarn as a bonus. My customer is totally awesome & totally wants me to keep it for myself. Seriously, how often does one get such a gift... more yarn?!!! Fabulous. Absolutely. I've no idea what I'll do with it yet, but I'll keep ya' posted.

Okay, that's it for now. Must get back to work.

Besos!

Serial Killers, Bikers & Vampires! Oh My!

2009-09-13T14:39:00.008-04:00

Well last week in television premiers was so amazingly off the chain that I needed some days to pass to process it all in my mind before I posted about it.

First up was Durham County (Monday, 10PM on Ion). Now considering that I don't tune in to Ion for anything to begin with, that I was going to do so based on the Durham County promos was saying something. It was excellent! I'm hooked and totally about it. It had a fresh feeling but still reminded me of Twin Peaks (or anything Lynch really). Not to spoil anything but in the beginning there's a scene with two girls in the woods & all I could say was "Those chicas have Laura Palmer written all over them". And they so did & that, I think is what will be setting the overall tone for the mystery of the season. It's not for the faint of heart & is definitely hitting high on the skeevy meter but if you're looking for a good story that'll make you double check the doors are locked & your cell phone's charged... ya' know, just in case... Durham County may just be for you.

Next was the most anticipated show on my list of premieres, Sons of Anarchy, (Tuesday, 10PM on FX). Sometimes you don't know what to expect with the second season of a show. It could be epic as easily as it could fall somewhat short. Well, no worries with SoA, it was beautifully epic and truly the best thing I've seen on television in months. Kurt Sutter & Co. have stepped it up a notch as unbelievable as that is and have set us on the road for high end drama where you just know that by the end will be littered with bodies, blood and tears. I can't wait. This one too, is not for the faint of heart but if you're down with SAMCRO there's no place you'd rather be.

And finally there's, The Vampire Diaries (Thursday, 8PM on CW). Basically, until LOST returns, this is just about my only reason to come off of cable for anything. As far as the show goes I was simply going to leave it at two words: Ian Somerhalder. But then I thought about how I liked it for more than just him. He's why I tuned in in the first place, he's not the only reason I'll remain. I've read the books by L.J. Smith & it's fun to watch the characters come to life on screen (even if in somewhat different incarnations). It was shot well, had funny moments kept a good pace. I don't care about all of the characters but I didn't in the books either, so no probs there. Nina Dobrev is doing a phenom job as Elena & I'll care about what happens with her. And Paul Wesley can almost make me adore Stefan. Almost. So, if you're free on Thursday @ 8 (which surely everyone is until at least the premiere of ABC's Flash Forward) then tune in & get bitten by The Vampire Diaries. I promise, it won't hurt a bit. ;)

One other show will get an honorable mention by me here... Melrose Place (Thursday, 9PM on CW). Tune in for Katie Cassidy as Ella, roll your eyes at Riley, wonder why the hell Jonah is wasting his time on her, try to determine if you really care about David, son of Dr. Michael Mancini or Violet, daughter of Sydney & drool over the hot but possibly ethically skewed Toby (who has a thing for recently in need of cash Dr. Lauren). See, before you know it, you'll be talking about these people like you know just who they are.

And in case it wasn't clear, I'll likely be blogging about these shows as we go along. So if you're tuning it, let's talk about it.

Besos!

Bite me!

2009-09-04T13:56:00.001-04:00

The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

It's been a great (& busy) week & I'm excited it's done. It's time to close out the summer officially with Labor Day weekend & one more cookout & beach jaunt. And that's all good & well, but I'm looking forward to next week also.

Next week The Vampire Diaries premieres on The CW. Kevin Williamson is trying his hand at angsty teen vampires... so like Dawson's Creek with teeth? No, not so much if it's done correctly. ;) The books are a fun & quick read that I really enjoyed. And I must admit, I'd not have had any inclination to even pick them up if I'd not heard that Ian Somerhalder was going to be playing Damon. Happily Damon turned out to be my favorite character & I know Ian plays skeevy sexy very well, so I don't foresee disappointment.

Anyway, as with most things I adore somehow my love of it & string merge & I wind up making things with a theme. It happened with BSG, Jericho & Sons of Anarchy & now... it's Vampire Diaries. What can I say, it happens. ;)

This week I finally posted 2 new creations that were inspired by the guys and what I feel their "color" is.

Damon is a slick pure alpaca scarf in charcoal black. Always stylish & perfect anywhere... just like the character.

Stefan is made of the same pure alpaca but in a deep sanguine red. A bit more emo but fired embers on the slow burn. Felt like Stefan to me.

I'm still thinking about the other characters but I have to admit, that I don't see the tv embodiment of Elena as a lapis blue (maybe it's Nina Dobrev's shading being opposite what ut was described as in the book) but no matter, I'll have that worked out by next week I'm sure. Jury is also still out on Alaric & Bonnie as well. Hmm.

That's all for now but don't forget to check out the show on Tuesday the 8th on the CW. Happy & safe holiday weekend!

Besos!

Horizon Flux: Summer Sets But Autumn Rises

2009-09-01T07:44:00.001-04:00

Sunrise On The Way To O.C. MD
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

It's September & I'm in the mood to welcome autumn. Of course it's still summer but in my mind, as soon as September hits, kidlets are back in school with cooler climes in the morning & pre-season football is about done, it's autumn to me. :D

I'm ready for all the great things that happen in the last bit of the year from festivals to food. And all the while being wrapped up in warm jackets, scarves, sweaters or hoodies. I'll be working through my stack of books with a pumpkin latte to keep me company. It's going to be great.

What are some of your favorite autumn delights?

Thank you summer, see you next year. :) Autumn, we'll reacquaint once you've unpacked.;)

Forecast: Mainly crochet with periods of writing & occasional reading

2009-08-28T08:18:00.001-04:00

More Posh Yarns!
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

That's what I'm all about today. It's overcast & rainy out, so it's more than perfect for what I've planned.

I've been spending my evenings getting to know my NanoWriMo characters so that's meant less crochet time this week. It's all good, because balance is absolutely important. So to keep the balance I need to get on with my adventures in yarn today. I've a black and gold scarf that's been begging to be finished for two days & I want to start another Samantha as well.

And no matter what, I'll be sneaking in some NaNo prep time (most likely @ lunch) and read more Rimrunners (cause I want to get to the next Cherryh book in my stack). Look for another Chewing Chica post because I'm making a really neat soup today.

And do stop by the NaNo blog to check out the new NaNoWriMo 2009 gear (it goes on sale Sept 1 & I'm seriously trying to get one of each shirt!) & am hoping that there are red mugs this year!

Happy Friday!

Thursday slump? Have a cupcake!

2009-08-27T08:47:00.002-04:00

Temptation Row: Red Velvet Trio
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

While Wednesday seems to be the general slump for many, I find that Thursday is the day that gets me. I always need a little extra motivation to push through. Today's pick me up is this little pic of cupcakes. And I'm sharing it because joy is about the little things & when they can also come calorie free, it's a mitzvah!

Make it a great day!

Besos!;)

Inspiring Dreams of NaNoWriMo 2009

2009-08-26T09:05:00.003-04:00

Cascade Plaza
Originally uploaded by Satoru Kikuchi

So I was clicking around Flickr and looking at pics & stumbled upon this visual confection by Satoru Kikuchi of Cascade Plaza in Banff. Beautiful, huh?

Something about it put me in a NaNo state of mind & that led to the total epiphany I had about what I'm going to write this year. I know, this many months out & I have an idea and plenty of time to work out my details. Who friggin' knew? ;)

I'm still on a search for other pics that inspire me on my NaNoWriMo journey this year. I'll likely post more of these as I find them.

It's August, do you know where your NaNoWriMo idea is?

That 70's Scarf

2009-08-26T08:49:00.002-04:00

CARLY- Men's/ Unisex Retro Autumn Smash Scarf Orange Brown Yellow
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

Yes, that's exactly how I feel about Carly. It's all retro and fun. When I picked up the yarn, it didn't dawn on me that it'd work up this way or that the color scheme gave off that vibe. After it was finished & I looked at it, it was so clear.

I've often wondered why the colors of the 70's seemed to be really earthy with all the browns & oranges (I mean really, ORANGE?!). Did something happen that made these the standard... and not always in a good way? I've seen pictures of brown wall paneling & orange & yellow patterned lino on the floor my parents had and all I can say is... WOW. ;D I'm all for it in combination in small pieces, but all over a house in decor, not so much.

Bella, you can keep Edward, just hand over the scarf & no one gets hurt.

2009-08-25T09:10:00.002-04:00

Bella, you can keep Edward, just hand over the scarf & no one gets hurt.
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

So it's no secret that I'm no big fan of Twilight ( I still think The Host should have been a series & surely a bigger hit, but that's another post for another day), but when I saw this scarf, I had to have it.

Apparently my fangirl is all about the Twilight gear. :D So I bought the Bella Baseball Scarf (from Stella's Knits on Etsy)but I had it done in custom colors that feel more like me, hence the black, white, grey & charcoal. I can't wait to wear it when it gets cold out. I still won't see the film but I am looking forward to whatever warm cuddly knit & crochet wear may come from the next film.

A Perfect Breakfast For Two

2009-08-17T07:28:00.001-04:00

A Perfect Breakfast For Two
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

In my most perfect dreams of what every morning would be, I'd have blueberry muffins & lattes with my husband at Cafe Azafran in Lewes, De. They happen to also make a kickass red velvet cake. Srsly.

Alas, this morning, I've only got the coffee. But, it's good coffee & will do the job.

That's all for now maybe I'll c-ya later on Twitter. Make it a phenom day!

Besos!

What's Up @ The 'Tique & General Miscellany

2009-08-17T07:00:00.001-04:00

Things are getting busy already! :D I'm always in the midst of making something so that doesn't really count so much as part of the busy thing. But, I've a good deal of merch that I need to tag & label to get off to consignment at the end of the week. Additionally, I've a list of Evie Hood Cowls (online particularly in Grey & Eggplant for some reason) & Samantha Infinity Scarves that need to be made as well. They're flying away online and IRL so I feel like I'm constantly behind on stock for those. That can't be helped and is totally a good thing so I'll keep plugging away. :) I also need to get more pictures done & update my Flickr with my vacation shots not to mention my product pics. I keep telling myself I'll get to it

Also, I should know by the end of the week if I'll be able to participate in FiberFest. It's October 10th in Snow Hill, MD, but I need to make sure my sched is clear for that timeframe.

In non-'tique business, I have had a smashing idea for this year's NaNoWriMo & can't wait to get down more of my ideas for it. At least I've plenty of time this year to think about my characters & plot since we're already many months out. I have to thank my Twitter peeps for mentioning it & prompting me to get on. The idea though was totally a lightbulb moment & I could totally see how it's all going to go down. I'm so excited!

That's all for now. More dispatches from between the skeins & words later.

Besos!

NORRIS- Men's/ Unisex Ribbed Scarf Pumpkin Orange

2009-08-11T12:19:00.002-04:00

NORRIS- Men's/ Unisex Ribbed Scarf Pumpkin Orange
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

Well, autumn is coming & orange is one of those colors. Actually, orange seems to be good for both summer & fall. Hm. Well, either season it reigns is, Norris is fresh and eye-catching. I love it!

It's August & The List Is Out!

2009-08-04T08:25:00.003-04:00

AINSLEY- Men's/ Unisex Pure Wool Scarf In Berry Love & Chocolate
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

Every August there are items that come out of my online shops & head for the real world. It's that time again. In the past, customers have found it helpful for me to give them a heads up (especially those who don't happen to live near the scarves destination). So without further ado, here is The List:

Ainsley, Andre, Beau, Blake, Blaise, Chaos Theory 3, Emma, Hale, Jude, Kai, Leto, Lisa, Maddox (Pine & Penny), Torey, Worthy

Also they'll be featured on my blog & in my shop for the month of August. Today, I'll feature Ainsley.

More things seen @ The Fair

2009-08-03T11:33:00.002-04:00

Shear-iously?
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

Pretty cool shot I snapped at the Delaware State Fair. Thanks for the wool, dude.;)

I've made another SAMANTHA

2009-08-01T12:17:00.002-04:00

SAMANTHA- Scrolling Infinity Scarf Black
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

And the pictures were near perfect! Yay! Samantha never stays around long but I was glad to get this one done. The grey is just as popular as the black, but for some reason, I rarely get to making the black as often. Idk why. Anywho, here she is & isn't she lovely?

That's all for the moment, I've got to get back to work (I'm finishing up a grey SAMANTHA) but there's more SKO goodness to come.

Happy August!

Things Seen At The Fair

2009-07-31T15:33:00.002-04:00

A Kidlet & Her Cow
Originally uploaded by smittenkittenorig

This cute kidlet & her cow all snuggled up in the hay, for one. Me & the hubs went to the Delaware State Fair on July 25th & had a great time. This shot was one of the reasons it was a very cool day! :D I can't wait for the Maryland State Fair, I've never been.

Details, Details! Things To Do, Things To Get Done!

2009-07-28T07:15:00.008-04:00

Last night I had one of those moments of clarity that shocked me out of the calm blue cloud I was drifting on. It dawned on me that I'm days away from August & I don't feel like I've the amount of inventory I wanted to have for the upcoming season by now. Yikes!

I've pulled out all the Evie hoods I've completed to decide what's going out to consignment & what I'm retaining for my various online venues. I still have Samantha infinity scarves to make in black & gray & I'm contemplating expanding that line with regard to colors. And I've a mountain of yarn full of skeins giving me the Use Me Next! pitch.

That's all for now. I've got to get on. There's a white cashmere scarf that's expecting me to have it finished by noon. ;)

Besos!

Sunday Afternoon Chillax

2009-07-26T15:16:00.004-04:00

Ahhh, it's a nice sunny Sunday afternoon. The hubs is watching a baseball game & I'm working on a red Evie hood. Basically, it's just the kind of day a Sunday should be. Yesterday we were at the Delaware State Fair (pictures forthcoming this week) & not only had a great time but tired ourselves out. It was all totally worth it. ;)

Not much going on with the tech/online side of SKO today. I've pulled some more yarn from my stash that I'll list to destash this week & I need to finally start organizing the things I'm going to send off to the real world of retail in August. Additionally, I've got to at least begin photographing the new scarves for the Autumn/Winter season.

Tis all for now, I'm making a very nice salmon later for dinner so hopefully it's photogenic enough to make for a neat Chewing Chica post.

Besos!

Chewing Chica: Pantry Raid & Produce Run Soup

2009-07-21T09:25:00.004-04:00

Food is one of my favorite things so I'm going to be adding a recipe series to the blog thing. I'm calling it the Chewing Chica Series I figure since I eat & cook on a regular basis, it's something I can blog about somewhat regularly as well.

I whipped up this very veggie soup yesterday after picking up some local produce & having a pantry raid. It's occurred to me that it actually is relatively cheap to make while being quite filling & a great way to get your vegetables in.

Ingredients
2-3 cups fresh green beans
1 medium sized yellow squash
1 medium sized onion
1 medium sized pepper (green, red, yellow or orange)
4-5 small to medium sized carrots
1 can pinto beans
1 can black beans
1 can corn
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato paste (5-6 oz can)
4 cups hot water
1 tbsp Better Than Bullion Vegetable Base
1 tsp basil
1 tsp crushed rosemary
salt & pepper to taste
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsp olive oil

Method
Chop & dice your fresh vegetables before you get to the bit with the pot & heat. It saves time & aggravation in the end.

Sautee onions & peppers in soup pot in the olive oil & minced garlic. Sprinkle in a little salt to get the onions & peppers to sweat a bit. Cook until somewhat softened & stir often so nothing sticks to bottom of pot or browns.

Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, carrots & water to the pot. Turn heat up to medium. Add vegetable base, tomato paste & seasonings. Incorporate well & bring soup to just a boil. Add green beans & yellow squash. Adjust seasoning to taste. Cook on simmer for two hours, just until the vegetables are firm not hard & still vibrant in color. Serve & enjoy.

*Note: Do stir this soup on a regular basis as you don't want the beans to congregate on the bottom of the pot too long & stick. Ever 20 minutes or so seemed to work well.

Blog Resurrection

2009-07-20T13:10:00.003-04:00

Well, here it is. The first post of 2009. Ha! Don't ya' love that it's more than 7 months into the year? What can I say, I tend to need to take extended blog breaks & rejuvenate myself.

So lots has been going on while I've been away. I've read lots of books, crocheted tons & am fresh back from vacation. There's tons in store for SKO & a bit of a new direction for this little blog. Possibly that will make it a bit more of a destination for me & for my readers (if there's anyone left out there).

I've spent the better part of the morning changing the layout & tweaking things that will more reflect where I want to be. So far, so good.

My CNN iReport: Chasing Away Chills One Crochet Stitch At A Time

2008-11-18T15:30:00.004-05:00

That's hubby modeling for me, btw. ;)

ANDREI- Men's/ Unisex Arctic Ice Smash Scarf In Hues of Blues & Purples

2008-11-07T08:00:00.002-05:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's ANDREI!

JULIETTE- Parisienne Watercolor Mohair Blend Jetset Scarf

2008-11-06T08:00:00.003-05:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's JULIETTE!

JUDE- Men's/ Unisex Raccolta Rustica Scarf In Shades of Pumpkin & Hay

2008-11-05T08:00:00.004-05:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's JUDE!

Do Get Thine Ass To Thy Poll & Rocketh The Vote!

2008-11-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

Just a little break from regular for such a special day. :) This little doggie was a winner at the Halloween Party in Rehoboth Beach Delaware weekend before last. Part of the Sea Witch Festival thing. It was a great time & I can't wait to go again next year. ;)

GEMMA- Garden Party Long Scarf In Shades of Pink & Green

2008-11-03T08:00:00.003-05:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's GEMMA!

It Has Begun!

2008-11-01T00:00:00.004-04:00

That's right! It's November 1st & National Novel Writing Month has begun! So grab your plot, settle in & get your write on!

NaNoWriMo! It's November, do you know where your plot is?!

KAI- Men's/ Unisex Pure Peruvian Wool Scarf In Teal and Caramel

2008-10-20T08:00:00.002-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's KAI!

CORT- Urban Knight Men's/ Unisex Pure Wool Scarf In Pumpkin Spice

2008-10-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's CORT!

CARLISLE- Men's/ Unisex Long Fringed Scarf In Blood Wine

2008-10-18T08:00:00.002-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's CARLISLE!

EVIE- Hood Cowl In Sapphire Blue

2008-10-17T08:00:00.003-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's EVIE!

ETHAN- Urban Knight Men's/ Unisex Pure Wool Scarf In Teal Heather

2008-10-16T08:00:00.004-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's ETHAN!

EMMA- Scrolling Infinity Scarf In Loden Green With Brass Buttons

2008-10-15T13:35:00.003-04:00

I love how this EMMA turned out. This one went straight away to a gallery shop in Silver Spring, MD. I know I've not blogged in a bit, but I've been super-crazy busy! :)

BLAKE- Men's/ Unisex Pure Wool Vineyard Scarf In Shades of Purple and Green

2008-10-06T11:09:00.002-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's BLAKE!

EVIE- Hood Cowl In Solid Loden Green

2008-10-03T08:00:00.003-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's EVIE!

JO- Men's/Unisex Pure Peruvian Wool Scarf In Caramel Latte

2008-10-02T13:48:00.002-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's JO!

BRYN- Wool and Silk Blend Fringed Scarf In Pink Flecked Sangria

2008-09-25T08:00:00.004-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's BRYN!

HALE- Men's/ Unisex Ribbed Pure Wool Scarf In Earthy Mosaic

2008-09-24T08:00:00.004-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's HALE!

THE DUCHESS- Monarchess Collection Scarf In Autumn Blaze

2008-09-23T08:00:00.003-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's THE DUCHESS!

EVIE- Hood Cowl In Eggplant

2008-09-22T08:00:00.003-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's EVIE!

XANDER- Ribbed Men's/Unisex Scarf In Emerald Green

2008-09-19T08:00:00.001-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's XANDER!

EMMA- Scrolling Infinity Scarf In Black and Grey With Brass Buttons

2008-09-18T08:00:00.004-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's EMMA!

WADE- Men's/Unisex Long Scarf In Glacial Blues, Grey and White

2008-09-17T08:00:00.003-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's WADE!

BETTY- Long Wool Blend Sparkle Scarf In Cotton Candy

2008-09-16T08:00:00.003-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's BETTY!

Busy But Reading!

2008-09-16T07:45:00.000-04:00

I've been working my ass off but still getting in some writing & a good bit of reading. I seriously am loving Stephenie Meyer's 'The Host'. I just can't tell if Wanderer or Melanie is my favorite female lead. Ha!

Also, I've finally begun the Private Series by Kate Brian. I'm just on the first book in a collection of 4 that I picked up & it's quite good. I'm not one to give away plots or anything but I can see already that these characters are a bit more nuanced than a lot of YA characters. I appreciate that & wonder if that's why the series itself has had such a long run, with something like 16 books (I think).

I'm also glad to report that 'The Dark River' by John Twelve Hawks was just as phenom as the first in the series! I read the first one in 3 days & had a similar experience this time out with TDR. So now I'm awaiting the third installment with much anticipation because the cliffhanger has left me startled. Each of these books end like an episode of 24 or The Shield. Your adrenaline's all amped up & then it just cuts to black leaving you only to cry outloud, "Seriously, WTF?! Gah!"

In other book related news... I found the second installment in Duncan Sprott's series 'The Ptolemies'. I've been searching for this book for a couple years after having read the first in the series of the same name. Well, thanks to search on Alibris.com I found it! 'Daughter of The Crocodile" is the book & I'm all about getting it by next week. I've checked around and it seems that it was never released in the States & I can't imagine why because the first was amazing. I just can't wait to get it into my hot little hands & fall into it again.

That's all for now, I've got to get on. ;)

Keep reading! xoxo

THE PRINCESS- Monarchess Collection Scarf In Dusky Metallic Muted Pastels

2008-09-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's THE PRINCESS!

EVIE- Hood Cowl In Solid Red

2008-09-11T08:00:00.002-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's EVIE!

WYNNE- Ribbed Men's/Unisex Scarf In Bright Yellow

2008-09-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's WYNNE!

EMMA- Scrolling Infinity Scarf In Blush Rose With Brass Buttons

2008-09-09T08:00:00.001-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's EMMA!

EVIE- Hood Cowl In Solid Charcoal Black

2008-09-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's EVIE!

EVIE- Hood Cowl In Grey

2008-08-28T08:00:00.002-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's EVIE! This (just like EMMA) is also a spinoff from last year's Samantha.

I Won A Book!

2008-08-27T15:00:00.001-04:00

Since I'm always on the lookout for something new to read, I decided to take a chance on a book contest on MySpace from one of my friends. Well, I won & the book came last week. It's out for sale in September so I'm even more thrilled that I have an early & signed copy. ;) The scifi geekess in me is frakkin' happy!

Stop by Aston's blog & take a gander, maybe you'll win a copy too!

DARBY-Trellis Scarf In Mediterranean Blue

2008-08-27T08:00:00.004-04:00

Darby was recently blogged about on Mixed Plate! How cool is that?

BRANDON- Men's/Unisex Ribbed Scarf In Moss And Putty

2008-08-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's BRANDON!

EMMA- Scrolling Infinity Scarf In Amethyst With Brass Buttons

2008-08-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

New in the 'tique for Autumn/Winter 2008! ;) Here's EMMA! I love the brass buttons!

Alexande "Smitten Kitten" Firenze

2008-08-24T16:00:00.004-04:00

Business namesake Alexande "Smitten Kitten" Firenze passed away on Friday, August 1, 2008. She will always be loved, always missed and hopefully haunt me & my husband in perpetuity.

More Autumn/Winter Preview...

2008-08-02T08:08:00.002-04:00

Here's Sophie!

The Autumn/Winter Collection Preview... Continues

2008-07-29T08:22:00.005-04:00

Emma- This season's Infinity Scarf. It's a new take on last year's Samantha (which proved to be wildly popular & oft requested as custom). This time out, there are brass buttons accenting the scarf. I love this one, I really do! ;)

Betty- so named because I really love Mad Men on AMC & I think Betty Draper rocks! The yarn reminded me of a sweater she wore in S1 so I purchased it in about five colors and the first two I've made have turned out phenom. They actually sparkle.

The Autumn/Winter Collection Preview...

2008-07-26T08:48:00.003-04:00

A couple additional shots...

Stay tuned there's more to come. ;)

Coming Soon... Autumn/Winter Preview

2008-07-24T11:05:00.006-04:00

It's that time of year again. Time to start thinking about cooler temps and wrapping up again. I've been busy for months and have finally taken a good many pictures (I still have tons to take) of the new offerings from SKO. So stay tuned for more previews and watch for the debut in August.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled summer. ;)

Back From The Beach Vacation...

2008-07-21T09:45:00.011-04:00

It was phenom & I'm ready to get back to work. I bought some amazing yarn at the local yarn shop in the beachside haven and I can't wait to get to work with it.

Here are a few shots from our trip. We absolutely love the hotel we stay in every year & even got to be in Southern Living Magazine this year, as we were asked to sit for a few photos on our trip last year. :)

Here's Thomas at the desk. I adore the elephant chairs in front. They've always made me think of Hercule Poirot. ;)

Here are a couple of shots of the hotel lobby. I love the decor & have in the past actually crocheted on the sofa. There's an antique shop & an art gallery in the front of the hotel before you reach the lobby. I forgot to take pics of those this time round. No worries, I'll be there again next year.

Our room this year. I meant to grab one without my handbag & a stack of the hubs clothes on the bed but I was overtaken by the love I have for this boutique hotel. Each room is themed a little differently though it's subtle. We had a Greek Key theme that presented itself in a few places and was really nice in the palette of browns that were used. The zebra print pillow was a nice touch too.

Seriously the coolest air conditioning unit I have ever seen. It opens up like a butterfly & is so silent one tends to forget it's running. the people at LG rock hardcore with the Art Cool.

So here's rush hour in downtown Lewes. That's Thomas in the center on the street on his way back to the hotel after his morning stroll down to the beach. The marina is just beyond him in the background.

Rainbow Duo From My Balcony...

2008-06-24T07:36:00.003-04:00

Last night between storms these appeared outside my place. Neat, huh?

Okay, So Here's What's Up...

2008-06-19T07:59:00.003-04:00

Dude! It's Summer!

It's beautiful outside and all I want to do is run out and enjoy it. And there's so much work to do also for Autumn/Winter for SKO. So what's a chica to do? Work her phalanges off, obviously! And read the stack of books on my desk. ;)

This little blog o' mine has been beyond neglected and I'd like to say that I'm really repentant, but I'm kinda' not because I've been quite productive other ways. I've found that unfortunately, I'm a mere mortal and actually do need to sleep and have fun every once in a blue. Go figure. ;)

And why am I mentioning this at all? Because it's seriously important and I've actually a point. I'm going to spend the next month or so on a blog tour and commenting on those I come across. All kinds of blogs all over the intarwebs. And I won't be making any updated posts on this little blog during that time. I'm doing this for a reason, btw.

What?

To basically see what other people have to say & how they say it. I'm thinking it'll be fun and maybe even a little inspirational to me when I start to post updates here some time in the second half of July. So, if you happen to be one who's stumbled here on some random chance and want to leave a comment for me to check out a cool blog or your own blog, please do.

Happy Summer!

Oy Vet...

2008-05-21T09:27:00.003-04:00

My smitten kitten it away at the vet after having suffered an episode of pulmonary congestion... she's about 8 & apparently older kitties can be prone to such maladies. :(

This has seriously thrown me off my usual diligence with work but I did get a request for another custom SAMANTHA scarf so that's really nice. It's nearly done and for that I am happy. Here's a peek:

Billie Jean Was Right! Fair Is Fair!

2008-05-09T09:46:00.005-04:00

My birthday was on the 7th & today I'm supposed to be taking the day to celebrate with my husband... and tomorrow. Funny how my birthday is turning into a birthweek celebration but that's a whole other thing.

Anyway, there's a very distressing issue taking place on Etsy and I've just got to blog about it. There have been changes to the Search function. Granted, this was desperately needed and while it's certainly helping me to find exactly what I'm looking for more readily (and I'm sure others) it's also putting a great many sellers at a distinct disadvantage.

Vintage & Supply sellers have reported virtually halting business which is being attributed to the Search function now defaulting to Handmade items instead of All items. It strikes me as unfair that they've been cut out of the default because they've paid the same amount of money as those of us who sell handmade. And the reason given that Etsy wishes to focus on handmade doesn't make that pill any easier to swallow. The focus is fine but that doesn't justify the unfair default search. I'm not sure why this point is unclear to TPTB but I do hope they explain soon (the server issue thing does not suffice, btw).

In the meantime, please be sure to tell customers that there is indeed a drop down menu & an option to choose to search ALL items when they wish to browse & shop.

We're all a part of Etsy and shouldn't sit idly by while any of us seemingly falls by the wayside. Fair is fair & we've all paid the same amount of money to list so search access by default should be equal.

Fair Is Fair!

Busy Working But So Not Blogging...

2008-05-06T13:04:00.004-04:00

The whole blog thing has so gotten away from me but I've merch stacked up like you wouldn't believe. Finally a good stretch of sunny mornings allowed me to get my photog on. :D

I love crochet cloths but seriously could never find a set of solid black to save my life... apparently some of my customers feel the same way, so I've finally listed these to see if any Etsy peeps are similarly afflicted. That it's one of my very favorite colors made these a total no brainer and a complete pleasure to make. ;)

SKO Wherefore Art Thou Etsy Love?

2008-04-21T13:57:00.003-04:00

My Etsy love was on serious burn out! I had too much marketing & business going and not enough time for the creative aspect. So I took off some time... actually I kinda' still am. Off Etsy SKO is busy so it's all good. As always, I'm seeking balance and as usual it's illusory.

I've tons of things that I've made over the last month or so that are waiting to be photographed and listed and I'm also going through some shop restructuring as well. Spring brings renewal of all sorts, thank goodness! :D

But I've been writing my ass off! That's been phenom! :D

Nothing Left To Lose

2008-03-24T15:16:00.003-04:00

My love of the show Jericho has been well documented in this little blog and as a newcomer to the show, I am saddened to report that on Friday, CBS decided to cancel it. Again. *sigh*

Seven episodes. Ten o'clock time slot. Less character development. More pyrotechnics & guns. I didn't dislike it but I can see how fans of the first season may have dropped off, it looked quite different from what they loved. On the up side CBS/Paramount are very interested in shopping the show around to various other networks to hopefully continue the story. I hope it's successful because I'm still very interested in the story to be told.

Here's a little "promo" that someone posted on YouTube and all I can say is: Please make it so! I totally love every FX show going and if they added Jericho to the mix, it would so rock!

Éireann Go Brách! Slàinte

2008-03-17T06:53:00.007-04:00

I've made the corned beef & cabbage, the colcannon & the soda bread, but I'm not drinking the Guinness!

It's really not my fault. I've come by my Irish through marriage & the contributions of the fine counties of Cork, Tyrone & Donegal. But I completely throw myself into the celebrations & traditions that my emerald eyed guy holds dear... though the sound of the Gaelic had to grow on me. ;)

So here's hoping all your Guinness pints are pulled proper today complete with shamrock. I wish you all Gra Dilseacht Cairdeas (love, loyalty & friendship) today & everyday! Go get your Irish on!

Besos!

Ides of March... Don't Sweat It Marty! Let's Have A Party!

2008-03-15T08:32:00.009-04:00

I am a huge fan of all things Ancient History & The Ides has been one of my obsessions. I've always wanted to host an Ides of March party like they do in the House of Yes (love that film). But I've found that there aren't large groups of people who are really into such things. Maybe it's too macabre in general.

I think there's a certain charm to the day of doom and going out and doing something, anything that you've never done, may possibly scare you or is outside of your comfort zone. If you crash & burn, blame it on The Ides & if you succeed or just come out unscathed, place your stake right in the heart of Fate & tell her better luck next time.

I'm going to have a big Ides of March sale this weekend in my shop & submit a query letter I've been putting off for weeks. So get out there and ask yourself... What would Jackie-O do?

Besos!

This Is Why Ferris Needed A Day Off...

2008-03-14T08:09:00.006-04:00

I just had to grab the camera & capture a couple shots of the sunrise! I want to just jump in the car & drive over to Ocean City, MD! Luckily, it's going to rain later today but what a beautiful way to begin a day, yeah?

Now to write... or crochet? Hmmm. I think I'll start with coffee & see where the mood takes me. :D

Besos!

Alchemy Is Back!

2008-03-13T07:02:00.003-04:00

Wow! Alchemy has returned & it's even better than it was before. It made me feel like I was old school Etsy because I remember the first time 'round. *cringe* It was neat & so missed when V2 launched and it was no more. Honestly, it's been so long, I can't really believe it's there & I keep going in and looking at it. I'm totally loving the Alchemy area in the shop. That's pretty neat & not something we had before. I think it'll serve as a sort of gallery once items through Alchemy are populated in there. Pretty neat.

Alchemy, I have missed thee. Reign long. Rage on!

Reshoots, Renewals & Wildest Dreams

2008-03-11T07:27:00.006-04:00

I spent some of yesterday taking reshoots of some few items that have long expired in my shop & been moved to the "not sure what I'll do with you" pile. There is only so much stock a person can take along when selling live & I also keep certain stock for each venue. I've found that reshoots are interesting, if not fun & also a great way to make an item look fresh. And of course it's a good reminder of how craptacular your skills were before by viewing how far you've come. :D

I'm not the biggest Etsy renewal person, but I do employ the tactic when I've redone the pictures. I would really love it if you could edit it in some way before you renew it live however. I suppose it's not the biggest complaint & with Etsy I haven't many but I would like that ability. I'm always nervous that I won't get back to the edit button to pull it before anyone can see it. Yes, I am a bit of a spaz that way. :)

And, I'd like to have shop stats, like, for real. Metrics are hot. ;)

If you could change anything about the process of your business in the Etsy venue what would it be?