Lost is Back!!!

Yay. Enjoying it right now!!!

Lots happening on the phydeaux front:

Isn't this to DIE for??? Love it!!! But I have four scarves lined up and in process in front of it. Sadness. This is from the incredible Kitty Grrlz Knits & Spins, who sells her incredible wares in her Etsy shop. You might not be able to see all of this here, but it has bits of ribbon, chenille, metallic threads, etc., with lime and violet. I can't imagine that a scarf made from this will last long -- should be snatched right up!

I listed the scarf that I told you about in my last post, calling it "Prairie Chic." I realized, as I listed it, that I have three scarves listed in remarkably similar, while quite different colors. Darn.

But I think I'll have solved that dilemma with this incredible one I'm finishing up tonight. This picture doesn't do it justice, but's 100% handspun wool, dyed in a gold with almost glazes of deep greens and blues -- it's really incredible. Any my first truly androgynous scarf (I started out thinking it was for men, but I'd want it for myself!). I'm not sure if I'll use fringe or not -- fringe seems more feminine to me.


Here's another new one (got a new shipment of yarn and fiber yesterday, tee hee hee). I'm combining two fingering weight yarns to make a lacy, long garter stitch scarf. That brilliant orange is a mohair/acrylic mix. The multicolor is a linen/viscose/acrylic mix. I didn't intend to combine when I bought them, but boy, they sure match!


I also "renovated" my shop with a new banner and avatar. Gave up on the old font with the bad "y." I'm trying to create a sort of vintage Paris feeling (for "phydeaux") using pink and black. I'm searching for an image of a long necked slinky black cat to use on the banner.

Now need to sleep!!!

Newest goodies

This beautiful (!!!) handspun arrived the other day, a pleasure to roll into a nice ball, and an even bigger pleasure to start knitting up a scarf with it.


It's so soft and bulky -- can't wait to see the final product. From misshawklet at Etsy -- plus some other gorgeousness that I'll post later.

Also, I'm experimenting with two yarns from my stash in royal blue and white, SUPER soft. I think it would be great with fringe with both yarns.

Finally, I'm playing with this gorgeous raspberry jam yarn. This is using size 17 needles, which are honkin' big, and it's still a tight stitch (I knit tight), so I'll try again with a 19, see if I can loosen myself up.

I'm working on listing a new scarf, which turned out great -- made with misti alpaca, which is so incredibly silky and soft, it's a joy to work with.

So, I'm not dying of Ebola (big shock there), just a sinus infection and a "little" bronchitis. Should start feeling more human in a few days. At least the headache's clearing up. Whew!

Sinus woes and lupus lessons

So, one of the many fun things about living with lupus is the constant second guessing about minor (and major) ailments. Is it a hangnail or a massive inflammatory response to something in my fingernail? Is it a reaction to my new face cleanser or is it discoid lupus lesions across my cheeks and nose? You get my drift...

I could not not not wake up this morning, and when I finally did, it was with a massive horrendous headache, with the world spinning, and feeling drugged. I think it's probably the start of my annual battle with my sinuses, and maybe a sinus infection. But there's that part of my brain that asks if it's lupus bothering my central nervous system (CNS). You might ask, CNS! Wow, you ARE a hypochondriac. However! Lupus often messes throughout one's life the organs/systems that you first showed symptoms with when lupus first messed with you. For instance, if someone had major kidney problems early on, that's likely the system that will really have problems later on. And that makes sense, right? Well, my first symptoms were joints, chest pain, migraines, eye problems, dizziness. The last three (at least migraines and eyes) are CNS-related. So, now when I experience exacerbations (flare ups), my poor head always gets the brunt of it.

So, circling back, even though I'm sure I'm just dealing with a sinus infection, there's always that niggling shriek in the back of my head, "can this be something more?" I'm ignoring it for now, having voiced it out loud, and am curled up in bed, warm compress across my head, waiting for the sinus meds to kick in, because it's bad enough that I'm missing work, but I can't miss school tonight!!!

First sale, yay!!!

Made my first sale! Yay!!! And listed a new supersoft variegated red scarf (see right). It was fun before, but it's even more fun when you see the fruits of your labor!

Kitty sniffles + torrential rain = quiet day at home

Good Lord, will the rain ever stop? I feel as though fungi will soon spring from my toes. California is definitely under deluge. I couldn't sleep last night with the wind wailing and throwing things at my windows -- I just kept waiting for the next set of branches to crash to the ground in the backyard ... or through my sliding glass door or wall.

No branches, I'm relieved to report, but lots of things tossed about in the back yard. I'll wait for the wind and rain to stop before I go retrieve anything.

To make life more mundane ... err interesting ... both kitties have runny eyes and noses. Kitty sniffles! Since Vicks doesn't make Catquil (tuna, bacon, and mouse flavors), we're all lying low. In fact, Molly my non-snuggler is curled up in my arms snuggling away (which can only mean she doesn't feel well), which makes typing a challenge. Oop, she just ran off -- she's been on the hunt for a poor doomed moth who took shelter inside last night.

I'm still having so much fun with Etsy. A couple of scarves are getting quite a few views. I just got my first email from a potential customer!!! (hee hee hee) I was so focused and intent yesterday learning how to list items and learning via trial and error how to post photos (and how to change them to get more "hits") that I didn't get into bed until nearly midnight. Then the howling wind started ... you get the picture. I'm dawg tarred, as my Grandpa used to say, just one more reason to lie low today.

I have a pot of scarlet runner beans simmering on the stove -- doesn't that sound good??? I think I'll toss with grape tomatoes, parsley, olive oil, garlic and fresh squeezed lemon juice. Maybe a little lemon zest too. Yum. Reminds me of the great little store front in Pescadero, Phipps Farms, with small nursery, aviary and petting zoo. Gosh, I haven't been there for eons! I used to stop at the aviary and say hi to Ben, my friend Phil's little birdy that he donated when he moved to England quite a few years ago. Eep -- I hope that's the right name! Ben, right??? Anyway, Phipps' claim to fame is their incredible selection of dried beans and herbs. If the weather ever clears (and if Highway 1 is ever cleared of slides from this storm), I'll have to make a roadtrip. Ha! They're online at http://www.phippscountry.com/.

Well, if you check that out, you also have to check out Norm's Market in Pescadero, home of the MOST incredible artichoke/garlic/herb breads. Mouthwatering.

Hope you're all staying warm and dry despite whatever weather Nature's throwing at you!!!

Grand Opening!!!

OK friends, phydeaux designs is open for business: phydeaux.etsy.com. Free shipping through Leap Day!!!

So, your true friends are the people who point out the spinach between your teeth, right? So thank you, Kris, true friend indeed, for pointing out that the "y" in the phydeaux banner doesn't look like a "y." Dang. I'll have to play with it tonight.

Banner heck

Oh my gosh, I have been in banner heck all week, trying to come up with the perfect (or at least not completely embarrassing) banner for my new etsy shop.

I made a few, then hated them.

Bought one, then hated it.

And after several hours tonight in Photoshop, I'm pretty happy with my new simple (tot too busy, etc.) banner (see above). I don't know if it will come across here well at all. You can check on my new shop, phydeaux designs! I don't have anything listed yet, still working on the behind the scenes.

I'm just glad that some of my years of design and art training were put to good use ....

Fiber love

I've been busily knitting up scarves and ordering handspun and handpainted yarn to knit up more.
See my latest two arrivals!

Deliciousness!

All courtesy of the great artisans at Etsy.com.

It was grand!

Today's my last day off, and a lovely time was had by all.

My etsy shop is nearly set up.

I've learned how to make banners.

I've learned how to set up shipping calculators on paypal.

I've learned patience with the baby puppy who cries all day long next door, clearly kenneled or locked up in the kitchen (I can't have puppies -- I couldn't kennel them).

I've slept 9-10 hours a night for the last week.

I've knitted a lot of failures this week, and made a few successes.

I've embraced the fact that my way to cast on is the best (for me, anyway!).

I've experimented with photos of my creations (and ordered a dress form from ebay, when I gave up in frustration with my makeshift dress form, see left).

I've eaten pretty darned healthy this week.

I majorly cleaned (I'm glad I took pictures, because entropy has already taken over).

I successfully purchased and installed a 500 GB external HD (hee hee hee).

And what I didn't do doesn't matter so much in the end (except taxes ....).

May the blissful endorphins running through my system last the entire semester........

Countdown to return to work ...

I have loved being on vacation -- first time to completely relax (which I wish I did more of this week) since JUNE!!! In July, I was panicked, getting ready for my week long course in Boston, and also making job decisions. In August, I made my decision, started a new job, continued the old job, and prepared to start grad school. Everything else is a blur ...

I'm not sure why I haven't been completely wiped by the flu or ebola or something. I've been remarkably healthy, considering. I had the lupus skin weirdness this week, but it's nearly cleared up. I wish I could say it's due to my incredibly healthy diet and exercise regimen, but even typing the words wants to make me laugh out loud.

I've really enjoyed this week rediscovering myself, including my love of and need for creating. Whether that's via writing or cooking or drawing or painting or knitting or jewelry making or just sitting and thinking, creating makes me happy. When I was a kid, I made stuffed animals, sewed doll clothes, sewed my OWN clothes, knitted, crocheted, drew, painted, wrote stories. I still did a lot of that + more throughout the years, but shut all of that down when I restarted school in 2001. Now I'm trying to find a balance with this and school, work, life.

So in light of the above, see my latest love above: misti alpaca hand painted chunky yarn, from which I made a gorgeous scarf (I'll post a photo when it's completely complete). Aren't the colors beeeootifull? Just screams Spring! I want to add buttons or maybe a couple of felted flowers. I haven't tried felting, mind you. Well, on purpose. I supposed I've felted many a sweater over the years by accident!

Rearranged living room today -- SO SORE -- and finally bolted my new bookcase to the wall, so started to fill it up with books! Pix tomorrow -- too sore to get up and download photos. It looks so nice, though. The girls love it -- lots of window real estate with places to sleep.

Camera heaven

The camera is back in action. Just took a couple of hours of battery charging. Who woulda thunk?

So, must start with my kids. I can see that I need to fix the screen door....

It was a beautiful, albeit chilly, day here. Loving vacation still!

You can also see one of my scarfs (scarves?) here. Although I l-o-v-e the yarn (Manos del Uruguay), this simple stockinette is a little boring and kinda putting me to sleep. I don't really want to do something incredibly complicated -- I like simple patterns for complex yarns -- so we'll see how this goes. Might have to rip her out. Aren't the colors gorgeous, though?

Nothing too exciting today. Actually left the house! Tried to help a lady find her lost doggy. Now I'm going to be up all night worrying as I hear coyotes... Rejoiced when my kitchen sink was fixed -- no longer have to wash dishes in the bathroom!

It's the simple things in life ...

Knitting geek

I'm excited! I got my Ravelry invitation today and am in the midst of setting myself up on their site. I've been a closet knitter/crocheter since I was a kid, only revealed every few Christmases when everyone gets mohair handknit scarves. I had a fantasy of setting up a cross stitch design business on the side, but with my eyesight woes, I can't easily do that anymore. But with my newest glasses, knitting works well again! So, stay tuned for an Etsy shop to sell my scarves, and if you're so inclined (if you knit or crochet or already belong to Ravelry), check me out there under "phydeaux."

Pictures to come -- battery charger's supposed to arrive tomorrow.

Good thing, because I'm finishing up a scarf today in my absolute all time favorite gorgeous soft yummy yarn: moda dea wild!. What's wonderful is the color, which makes me think of mermaids deep within a tropical ocean: greens, purples, indigoes, royal blues, sea greens, turquoises. And I can't find it any more locally! This is my last skein! So googling to buy more online. Love it that much. I'm usually a yarn snob -- only want natural fibers -- but am too in love with this to be snooty.

Day three of vacation, gotta love it. Woke up at 11 ... sinful. I was actually awake at 7:30, but am having some new lupus problems on my face, so snuggled in for more sleep. If I had my camera battery charged ... ahem ... I would show you a nice lupus skin lesion -- I had several crop up on my face yesterday, which is lovely (NOT). After lots of rest, water, anti-inflammatories, evening primrose oil, etc., the inflammation's going down, but it's still not pretty. Feels like one half of my face is having a major acne attack, except that all the bumps aren't acne. The other half has two big red swollen splotches, like bee stings, right under my eye. Kinda hurts, too. SO, kicking back today. Though I did lug a buncha trash (old planters, small branches, etc.) from the back yard, to make room for the guys who will be lugging away the felled branches.

More to come ...

... sigh ... vacation

That's the message on my IM. It's good to be on vacation w/o holiday craziness!

• Yesterday, picked up my new glasses that I can FINALLY read with from the mall, w/o losing my mind (e.g., fewer people).
• Today, braved Fry's electronics (walked out empty handed, which is usually the case for me), and found parking right up front.
• I tell you, getting groceries on a weekday morning is the way to go!

I still cannot find my digital camera battery charger to save my life. So, ordered a new one, should be here Thursday.

Branches are still piled high in the back yard, but big hole in fence is fixed (yay!). BTW, the pile wasn't 7 feet tall, just an inch or two taller than me, say 6 feet. But there are three big ones that I can't even budge -- size of small trees! And lots of smaller ones that I broke up into four separate piles. Thank thank thank God that those branches hit the lawn furniture instead of my glass doors or the walls. Birdies LOVE the trees on the ground. Kitties LOVE the birdies. I'm not complaining -- everyone's happy, and I'm happy if the kitties are happy.

Tried a new recipe yesterday -- Faro Salad -- and I'm hooked on this new addiction. Super easy, super healthy and super yummy. I just used the recipe, kinda, on the package: soak/cook the faro til tender, toss with chopped tomatoes, olives, capers, lemon, garlic, olive oil. I used parsley instead of basil (none to be had this time of year) and meyer lemon juice and meyer lemon infused olive oil, my other new addiction (SO good). Deeeelisssshusss.

Made a new recipe the other night, slicing steak very thin and tossing with grapefruit segments, thin sliced red onion, avocado, garlic powder, fresh cracked pepper (is there any other kind?), meyer lemon olive oil, and nice crisp greens and radiccio (sp?). The grapefruit juice and oil combined to make a nice dressing. Very very good. Having that again tonight!

I was going to spend a chunk of time this week researching family history, but I'm just not feeling it. I'm loving hanging out with my girlsies, watching nature dramas unfold in the back yard, with bouts of cleaning and cooking.

Busted!!!

Clearly, my cats hate each other.

I busted them today on a warm pile of laundry curled up in a cozy knot, poor Molly put into a trance by Fiona's mad grooming.

We got a break from the storm today! Hallelujah! Gave me a chance to get groceries and cat food (the latter being much more important). But it's danged cold and rain should be restarting any minute.

This storm is FOR REAL

I sent everyone home at work today ~3:15-3:30, and left at 3:40 myself. I just really didn't want anyone driving in this madness after it got dark (including me!!!).

Hurricane force winds?

10" of rain on the North Coast?

Flash flood and regular flood warnings?


Welcome to a California winter...




Little did I know that I would see the above when I looked out my own back door.


I'm still a little shaken (I was in shock for a wee bit). What you can't see from this is that these branches are as tall as the shed, which is a full foot taller than me (and I'm six feet with shoes on). What you also can't see from this is that this 7' + tall pile of branches missed my glass doors by just a foot or so, and didn't take any roof with it. Additionally, I'm glad to report that although this buried my lawn furniture, including a glass table, the table doesn't appear to be broken. I tried to move the big one and couldn't budge it -- this would have done major damage had it hit my roof or walls (or me!).


Mind you, I have two very twitchy kitties. I'm just SO thankful that they're OK. In the end, that's all that matters. We're holing up in the bedroom tonight -- even though there are no more branches overhanging my living room.

Happy 2008!!!

And Happy Birthday to Kris!!!

I'm sitting down for the first time today -- major major housecleaning, sorting, etc. has continued. Man oh man am I sore! Molly's sore too -- she helped me today every step of the way. Sitting on my shoulder. Peering over my back. Winding around my ankles. Today was the bathroom, and my kitties are fascinated by water. I'm happy to say I have a pretty darn clean bathroom now, but have paid the price with my back. I'm thinking some motrin and an early night will fix things right up.

Gorgeous and sunny today, but it will be cold tonight! Guess the New Year doesn't mean New Weather yet.

I have one more day off, then back to work. It's been a nice break, and just a taste of a week of true vacation (no Christmas) in just two weeks.

Hope you're all cozy, warm and with your loved ones!