KAL Proposition and Girl, You Want.

First up, I found a baby sweater on Ravelry that I'm dying to make. It's knit in a dk weight yarn, with short rows and two colors and knits up to make a gorgeous little jacket. The pattern seems a little wonky, but I'm determined to give it a try anyway. Perusing Ravelry, I couldn't find anyone that had trouble with the pattern, and it averages an easy ranking with gorgeous after gorgeous example. I found this well rated cotton yarn yesterday (Kertzer Butterfly Super 10), which comes in a zillion bright, beautiful saturated colors. I'm gonna order some, but first I need to decide on colors, that's always the hardest part for me. Anyone want to join me for a Spring KAL? It's just a little baby sweater people, I know there's gotta be some takers out there.
If you're not on Ravelry, here's a gorgeous one to check out from Cosy's website. Hi Cosy!

In other unrelated news: Dazee and I don't celebrate too many holidays or special occasions, but we definitely do-do birthdays. Since mine is coming up at the end of this month, I started making a list of stuff I want. Wanna see what I've been coveting lately?

Ten Greedy/Material Birthday Desires by Kittee Berns

1. The Study Hall Skirt. I found this skirt pattern on Anna Maria Horner's website, and I actually couldn't hold off until the end of the Month. I had a moment of frenzied panic, then ordered it faster than a fly on hot shit. The little baby is mine and it's coming home to Mama soon. I can't wait, this is just the kind of skirt I adore, and it's designed to sit on your hips, which I love considering I might have the shortest waist in creation. Yea, I know being short waisted gives me long legs, but it doesn't make up for the fact that my waist sits one inch below my boobiage.
2. Ribbon Print Skirt. If you don't know Hannah and her online shop, you might want to get yourself acquainted with them right quick. Her skirts are handmade to the core from fabric she actually screen prints herself. Hell to the Yes, she is one inspiring gal.
3. St. Germain Liqueur. My vegan gal-pal, Stephanie turned me onto this sweet nectar. Really, that's what it tastes like, elderberries. It's delicious over ice, but I want to try incorporating some into desserts too.
4. Metallic Rain Boots. I know!!!
5. Because Her Beauty is Raw and Wild by Jonathan Richman. This was released last year, but I haven't heard it yet. Did you know Jonathan Richman went vegan a few years ago?
6. Bento Box Soy Sauce Containers. Since I've begun toting my own gluten-free soy sauce out to dinner with me, these would make me a little less cranky about it.
7. BabyCakes: Vegan, Gluten-Free, and (Mostly) Sugar-Free Recipes from New York's Most Talked about Baker. This won't be released until a week after my b-day, but I'm keeping it on my list, just in case.
8. Cute Vinyl Cuff. I know!

9. Miss Bunny and her Balloon Vinyl Messenger Bag. I hope you're clicking on these links, or you'd be missing a bunny, a balloon and white fluffy clouds, cut out of vinyl and sewn onto a vegan messenger bag. If you're too lame to click, that image should speak volumes.

10. Oh, I have a practical side too, I also want a glass oil pumper (as recommended by Melisser), a hot air popcorn maker and a Mochi cookbook.

Now really, who wants to make that cute baby jacket with me??
xo
kittee

Sick and Fun

Ana invited me to hit some porch sales with her in Algier's Point today (an area of New Orleans over the Mississippi River called The Westbank). Since Dave was making a pit stop at Hong Kong Market, to stock up on delicious ingredients for the TVP Taco Bar tomorrow, he dropped us off.
Here's a video to show you our transition from Eastbank to Westbank. Really, there's no need for thanks since this was documented out of pure love.


As we were scouting for a good place to start, we drove by some kind of blues folk museum.

We're gonna have to double back someday to investigate as there was a cool robot in the yard


and Satchmo's eyeballs. He hypnotized me with his steely gaze...

We also saw cool architecture--I am way into brightly colored stained glass.

My friend Helen used to tell me regularly, "Kittee, there is no shortage of cute houses in New Orleans!" Truer words were never spoken, I'll need to dedicate a few posts to these homes sometime soon.

We were also wowed by the beautiful flora and gardens.

Bottle Brush Tree

Chicks 'n' Hens

We did in fact make it safely back to the Eastbank, where I proceeded to unload my porch-sale-haul (I found a lot of bric-a-brac, thread, fabric and some Southern Living cookbooks).

Then I documented the finished Striped February Lady Sweater #2 and proceeded to make granola.


Why yes, that is kumquat granola. Thanks for noticing!

I don't use a recipe anymore (I learned everything I know from Celine's peanut butter granola), but here's the gist. In a large bowl mix together: 3 cups rolled oats, a little bit of brown rice flour, a little mesquite powder, coconut, pecans, almonds, ground flax and a wee dash of salt. In a smaller bowl, mix together some peanut butter, brown rice syrup, maple syrup, vanilla extract and kumquat marmalade. Mix the liquid into the dry and stir until everything is moistened. Pour onto a lipped cookie sheet and bake at 325F, stirring every 15 minutes, until golden brown. Allow to cool and store in an airtight container.

xo
kittee

Work In Progress Wednesday

Since I'm stuck mostly in bed today (I caught someone's horrid head cold), why not three for three? Besides, I haven't posted a Work in Progress Wednesday since Mardi Gras.

First up is a little baby set I put together. This set is actually finished, but since I'm holding onto it until I can surprise the recipients I thought I'd share (I don't think they read my blog, since most of my RL friends and family don't. See, I'm sticking my tongue out at the lot of 'em right now, and they don't even know better).

I loved this pattern. It's the Presto Chango by Valerie Wallis. If you're looking for a quick knit, here it is. I had a lot of fun knitting this, and I love the way it turned out.

I wanted to make matching booties, and I've been eying this pattern for awhile--Little Button Loafers by Sylvia Schuchardt. I think it was a worthwhile $5.95 on Ravelry, especially since I've already used it twice, and I know it will be my permanent go-to bootie. I'm really awed by this pattern, it has some impressive architectural design and it was a (good) challenge to crochet--sorta like a satisfying crossword puzzle that's not too-too hard. The sole is actually crocheted twice for each loafer, then stitched together before the bootie is made. It makes them thick and ultra sturdy.


When I visited Portland recently, my friend Michelle had a wonderful grown up version of Elizabeth Zimmerman's February Two Needle Sweater, from The Knitter's Almanac. I believe hers was even a precursor to the famous February Lady Sweater that's been going around (by Pamela Wynne). Anyway, I wanted to make something similar with a striped yoke like hers, and buttons all the way down.

Instead of long 3/4" sleeves, I wanted short capped ones so I modified the pattern a little bit with some quick decreases around the cuffs. I also just ordered some vintage buttons from Zeldasbuttons on Etsy to go with this project, a few colors so I could see what I liked best. I'm hoping the hot pink ones work, but if not, I ordered some blue as a good standby. I just have about two more inches of the pattern to finish, then a few rows of garter and it's done. I hope the buttons come soon, we're having perfect SSS (short sleeve sweater) weather.

xo
kittee