Stix on the Beach: Tales From The Happiest Hooker!

Slumber Party

I caught a cold, well, a cold caught me, 'cause who really wants to catch a cold, right? Kali has not left my side, which means we've been livin' the high-on-Nyquil-life on this couch for days. We get comfortable together snuggled up against the finished ripple and half-finished cluster afghan and settle in for a long winter's nap.

Or sometimes we just stare at one another.


Or fall asleep looking at the Christmas tree that needs more decorating.

We wake up to a Christmas tree still not completely decorated.

And we fall back to sleep again.

I'm glad my yearly-at-the-end-of-the-year cold is clearing out, 'cause I have big plans next week that requires me to be bundled up in thermal and tights in the freezing forty-degree weather at night. A  sweet cream cheese filled pretzel shaped like Mickey Mouse is involved.

A Ripple of Kindness

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness.
Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.
                                                                                             ~ Scott Adams

Today is my thirty-sixth birthday. Those of you with long-term memory may recall that way back last year on December fifth, I declared the Ripple to be done by this date. But then Half-Human Hybrid Faerie-Penguin Elves came in (minutes after I took a full Percocet) and completed it days before Christmas!

I seriously could not have kept up the momentum over the last few weeks (and over the past three years!) without the encouragement and excitement from so many fans of this blanket. The incredibly positive response to the Ripple (on the blog ~ Flickr ~ Ravelry) since '08 has been the greatest gift!

So THANK YOU! I send to you all Warm & Cozy Ripples of Wishes!

Shell♥Shocked

On December 19th, 2010 ― nearly three years to the day when I first chained the foundation row ― I finished my Rip, Rip Hurray Ripple! Even though it's been over a week, I'm still feeling ripples of joy that I finally got it done ― and before Christmas!

I stare mesmerized by it when it's spread across the bed comforter. The vision I had for it at the beginning is nothing compared to what it became. It's better.

Over the next few posts, I'll go into more details about the pattern and patience it took to keep this ripple from going flat.  All the technical stuff (hook size, number of stitches, yarn type, etc) will also be included on its Ravelry project page.

I'm pretty sure I shed a couple of tears as I added the shell border. I couldn't believe it was at that point. When I slipped the last stitch off my hook, I just sat there shocked for a moment — not simply 'cause I completed something I started — but because Kali already claimed the blanket as her own while I was still crocheting.

True Colors

I walked in on Kali sleeping contently on the cozy ripple. I'm not a fan of knitting or crocheting with Fun Fur   — I have enough trouble with my dyed hair getting tangled in the yarn — so I kindly asked Kali to move off the blanket so it wouldn't be covered with her own.

You know how Vampires are possessive? Yeah, well, Kali showed her true self.

"BLANKIE IS MINE!"
Rehearsing her cameo on True Blood as Eric Northman's pet.

The Ripple is about a dozen rows away from being done! The remaining colors have been chosen. At this rate, I might even be able to add the two side borders before Christmas too!

A Ripple in Time For Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like we'll have a ripple in time for Christmas 'round here!

After remeasuring and recounting, I realize I suck at math. Also, the ripple only needs thirty-two more rows, half of what I initially thought.

I have visions of  shell-stitch borders (and dancing sugarplums), but I need to chill the hell out (and lay off the pain Rx) and reach for just getting the rows finished for now.