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Just kidding here is today's picture.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Monsters University

Pixar has recently announced that there will be a Monsters Inc. prequel called Monsters University. (For the record I was well into my project before I heard anything about it ;).) I'd love to wrap all of this up with a preview to the new movie but we don't have one yet. Instead I give you a teaser for the original movie and a promise to share the new one once it comes out.




I'm headed to Florida to play at Disney World so expect a wordless week with pictures full of magic!

Billy - Class of 2011

From Billy's introduction letter:


Hello,


My twin brother Willy and I decided to sign up for the internship program because we were inspired by the Abbott and Costello programs we saw during class. We saw how funny they were and then thought how much more wonderful it would be if they would have been twins like us! I am looking forward to getting to observe your family and learn all of the great things that I can from you, hopefully faster than my brother does from his host family!






Favorite Joke:


What did the right eye say to the left eye?
Between us, something smells.




Jessica's pattern is written completely flat. Even the adorable tail is done back and forth and seamed up so for Billy I decided to do everything in the round. I used Susan's Elefante feet and then just converted Jessica's purls to knits and rows to rounds.

Willy - Class of 2011

From Willy's introduction letter:

Hello,


My twin brother Billy and I decided to sign up for the internship program because we were inspired by the Abbott and Costello programs we saw during class. We saw how funny they were and then thought how much more wonderful it would be if they would have been twins like us! I am looking forward to getting to observe your family and learn all of the great things that I can from you, hopefully faster than my brother does from his host family!








Favorite Joke:


How do you catch a squirrel?
Climb a tree and act like a nut.





These brothers are a great little lesson in gauge. Billy was knit on a set of needles one size smaller than Willy. You can look at the class photo for a great comparison of their size difference. I think I like the tighter gauge better for toys. I can stuff them a little tighter and now worry about the innards showing through the stitches.

Marcy - Class of 2011

From Marcy's introduction letter:


Hello,


My name is Marcy. My grandmother says I’m shy, but I’m just quiet. Either way I think this internship is really going to help. Grandma thinks it will bring me out of my shell, but I am just hoping to work on my comedic timing. I am looking forward to getting to know you.










Favorite Joke:


What did the fish say when it hit the concrete wall?
Dam!



This is Maddy's cousin. They lived a couple towns over from each other but ended up at the same university  and in the same program. Marcy doesn't talk much, but Maddy chattered enough for the both of them. At her internship she has 6 very qualified mentors to help her find her voice. I'm pretty jealous of her current opportunity.

Gus - Class of 2011

From Gus's Introduction Letter:

Hello,


My name is Octavius, but please call me Gus. I started school to be a lawyer, but I had to change my major. No one in corporate law appreciated my riddles or impersonations. Making the switch was the best decision I’ve ever made. It has been all giggles since I’ve started studying energy obtainment. I look forward to learning from you and in return, I’ll do my best to assist with any legalese we encounter along the way.








Favorite Joke:


What do giraffes have that no other animal has?
Baby giraffes!




Look at that happy grin. I think I am starting to get better at the embroidered faces on my toys. I had a lot of fun with this project trying to develop personalities for each of them with the little details that I added. Gus has a grumpy source, but he's a bit more cheerful.

Chibit - Class of 2011

From Chibit's Introduction Letter:

Hi,


My friends all call me Chibit. I love puns and peanut butter! I am looking forward to learning from you, but I’m really excited about the food. I have a whole list of things I want to try: Key Lime Pie, Popcorn, Clam Chowder and Lasagna. Those are just the top few. I really hope you’ll share some of your favorite foods too!






Favorite Joke:


When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.





I am almost afraid to post pictures of Chibit. It seems that once she arrived at her new home, she's decided that her antenna are now tentacles. Not that I blame her; I'd want to show off my versatility to my new family too.

Jimmy - Class of 2011

From Jimmy's Introduction Letter:

Hi,


You can call me Jimmy. My family has been in energy obtainment for generations. I grew up learning all of my father’s best scare tactics, so I am counting on this internship to help me catch up. I want to be as good of a comedian as I am a scarer. My hero used to be Axe Cop, but lately I’ve been trying to pay more attention to Jughead. Thank you for this opportunity. With your help, I’ll make my dad proud.




Favorite Joke:


What is the difference between roast beef and pea soup?
Anyone can roast beef.




I am really proud of Jimmy's mohawk. Not only did I find a use for some left over fun fur, but it looks fantastic! I was so caught up in making that I didn't even think about the jog in my stripes. If I was smart I would have put the mohawk over the the new round repeat, but I was too worried about making it work to make it perfect. Next time I'll do better. The one regret I do have about Jimmy is his plastic eye. I tried to make sure that every one in the cohort that was going to live with a young child would be resilient and safe for rough housing. The plastic eyes are not child safe (they can pop out and be swallowed by the very determined) and I just found out in the past month that the family he is going to live with is expecting a new arrival.

Maddy - Class of 2011

From Maddy's Introduction letter:
Hi!


Thank you so much for this opportunity. I am very excited about getting to spend some time observing your world. I am a huge fan of music and movies. I also love to go shopping with my friends. I know that we are going to have a lot of fun together and I’m confident that I am going to learn a lot from you.






Favorite Joke:


Knock, Knock
Who’s there?
A cow goes...
A cow goes who?
No! A cow goes moo!

Maddy was the start of this entire project. I wanted to do something special for a girlfriend. She is almost as big of a Monsters, Inc. fan as I am (though she makes up for it with her undying love of other Disney creations.) I had tried to make her a Hug, but mine just looked creepy. I decided to go through my queue and find something huggable. Penelope was perfect.

I wrote up the internship letter from Roz. As each monster finished they hung out in my apartment and Hubby and I started coming up with tidbits about them to include in their introduction letter. Right before sending them out I decided to include their favorite jokes in the introduction letter. I think it gives the host families a good sense of where their humor levels are at.

The Class of 2011

Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that I present to you the Monster's Incorporated graduating class of 2011!

Class of 2011

This cohort has completed all of the classes and training that Monster's Incorporated can offer. Now they are leaving for their internships to perfect their comedy styles.  They would like to give a special thank you to their commencement speaker Fred Rickert and their instructors: Kat Lewinski, Angela Tennant, Rebecca Danger, Jessica Zoz, and Heather Rupe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I started this project in October and I have loved every moment of it since. A couple of weeks ago, several of my friends received this letter:

Class of 2011

Over the last week they have been receiving their interns. I've already been getting pictures of them in their new homes and promises of Flat Stanley style updates! I'm loving it. Over the next week I'll post about each of them individually and tell you knitterly things as well, but before I go any further I want to give a big thanks to Hubby for helping me create these creatures (in every aspect other than knitting), for keeping my secret, for helping me not ruin the surprise, and for being the official class photographer.

Class of 2011

A Parade

Tomorrow is finally my secret knitting reveal! To help you get ready I have this adorable little video from Sara Moe.

Follow Friday: Family Chic

From Family Chic

From about section:
I love feathering my nest in unique ways. This blog is a place for me to catch all of my ideas as I'd like to put out a book one day. I hope these projects inspire you.

Camilla's projects on Family Chic are colorful, simple and inspiring. She shares fun little ideas that cute and affordable little projects. I really like that most of her ideas do not require much in the way of craft supplies. A lot of people create beautiful things and share wonderful instructions, but I usually feel like their craft room is a mini-Hobby Lobby. I admit that I have an outrageous amount of stuff for knitting, but I don't have (or want) a large collection of supplies for crafts I don't do regularly. I love that Camilla's ideas are not just inspiring and beautiful, but also things I might actually do. Check out this adorable bud vase. I know I'll use that.

WIP: Myrtle

I am continuing on with Myrtle. Here is a sleeve!



I know that I said that I was going to follow the pattern as is, but I made an early-morning-middle-of-the-subway-unplanned-spur-of-the-moment decision. I've decided to do an extra pattern repeat and make the sleeves a little bit longer. I confess I think it was a waiver in my swatch faith. I was confident after the support I got, but I decided that my swatches were knit flat and these are in the round so if I felt they were too short I was fine to make the adjustments that I want. I knit so I have all the control right? I'm sure it will be fine. As long as the right sleeve doesn't start to drag on I won't regret it.

Follow Friday: Exercise Before Knitting

This should have been Friday's post but Blogger's troubles kept me from posting it on time so this week you have a bonus Wednesday Follow Friday!

From Exercise Before Knitting

From About Elinor:

I live with my husband, two kids, and two dogs in Columbus, OH, where I attend medical school at The Ohio State University. Generally speaking, I find “exercise before knitting” a good rule by which to live. I will wash dishes for homegrown tomatoes, sturdy wool, and even sturdier coffee.

I agree with Elinor that exercise before knitting is a great rule. I need to do better about following it myself. Her blog is just as inspiring. It is everything you could want from a knitting blog: fantastic projects, beautiful pictures, great patterns and enviable fibers. If you really want to  appreciate Elinor, look no further than her post on making the most of your yarn. It is a fantastic tutorial on how to use a little bit of math to plan out stripes that will let you use your miscellaneous yarn left overs and look completely intentional.

Flying way up there

So I've been neglecting the blogging for a bit. I am putting the final touches on the secret knitting project. I've taken all the pictures and the reveal is almost here. I think by the end of the week I should be able to share. In the meantime, while I finish sorting out these details I have a video for you. 

I've confessed this before, but I'll tell you again. When I was little I use to think that the reason I never saw moths during the day was because they were all flying toward the sun. It made sense to me. They follow the lights at night, why not during the day. I am proud to announce that I wasn't all that wrong! Check out this cute video and pay attention; you might learn something.


Look Up! The Billion-Bug Highway You Can't See from NPR on Vimeo.

More Gardens

Today was a bit overcast, but Hubby and I went out to take pictures at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. I'm quickly deciding this is one of my favorite places on earth. I see something new and beautiful every time we go. Today, I fell in love with this lilac bush:

From May 14, 2011 BBG

Isn't it sensational!* Here are some more pictures that Hubby took while we were out.


*That's a little inside joke between me and whoever else happens to know that this bush is called sensation.

Queued: Stripe Study Shawl

From Veera Välimäki

I love the asymmetrical stripes on Veera's pattern, Stripe Study Shawl. It looks like the is also askew which makes me extremely curious about the construction. The knitting is all garter stitch (and whatever tricks are hidden in the pattern) so it should make for great tv and movie knitting.

I am so excited about this project that I've pushed it up to the top of my queue. Not only does it look great, but I need a new shawl. I fell in love with my first triangular shawl, but so did a lady at work, so I handed it off to her. My last one, was a bit disappointing so I am still without one. In true Goldilocks fashion, I am trusting this one to be just right. I've already found some beautiful yarn on sale. (It is a very promising start!)

Not a Flock Yet

I am burnt out on secret knitting, so there is nothing secret about this project. Friends are having a baby, so I've decided to make them a mobile. I confess that a mobile was not really my idea. Meg Bakewell planted the idea in my head before  I even knew my friends were expecting. Her pattern Flock, from the Spring 09 Knitty, instantly won my heart.

I have already finished the first bird, and I am in love with this pattern. Meg did a fantastic job designing these birds. The shape of them is perfect and they knit up quickly in just three pieces. I am excited about the other four.