Oui oui

There was a wonderful article in Saturday's paper about the local foodie's trip to Paris with his family.  I enjoy his Friday column (I'm a big cheapie, and only get the paper on weekends, but you can't beat 4 days a week plus holidays for $2.50 per month), and this article was no different.  Although he definitely enjoys the finer things (doesn't it seem ludicrous when people say they enjoy the finer things? 'Me, no thanks, I enjoy the coarser things- Old Grandad, polyester blends and the sound of teeth grinding'), he always gives an overall real approach to every review, and visits great places that I hope get more exposure because of his column.

Needless to say, the article re-awakened my Parislust (not to mention the crush I got on the cheesemonger in London- can you imagine a more perfect life?  Being married to a cheese pusher,  always having plenty of the good stuff in your house- in fact, here is what our house would look like-

that was made of actual cheese- why don't they offer these for saddies like me to purchase?)....I'm sorry, the dairy products have me sidetracked.  I am picking up French language tapes at the library, and added a bunch of books to my Amazon wish list, since my library is a little sad in their book selection (at least in the non-fiction area). 

I finished something too- wait for it, wait for it-

Ok, it's not completely finished- the ribbon isn't sewn in, but I'm not sure how I feel about the ribbon, and I couldn't find a sewing needle if my life depended on it (luckily it doesn't, and lest you think me a complete pig, our basement is unfinished, and the repository for All Things Crafty).  I think it needs a wider/bolder ribbon.  I ran across a slight snafu when seaming though- I had made the ruffle for the entire bottom, but if it ran across both sides, it would have been way too bulky in the front.  So I had to cut it off.

I know this doesn't look that great, but it was the best I could do.  I took a picture of the back, but I'm saving that for Halloween next year.  Truly frightening.

I vacillate back and forth on how I feel about this- I can't decide if the ruffles look clownish or just girly and cute enough.  But then, when I'm not sure, I get my Indignant Knitter cape on and decide that anyone is lucky to receive a hand knit item, whether it is repulsive or not.

And speaking of Indignant Knitter, I have to say that I do have a few comments after looking at SnB Nation.  I think there needs to be a moratorium on certain patterns.  Most importantly, the knit bikini.  If there is not a pattern out there that you like, then you don't like knit bikinis, and there never will be one to please you.  Suck it up and buy one.  Next, the fingerless glove.  I understand that there can be variations on simple patterns (ie socks), but I have yet to see one for this idea.  Please stop.  Also, getting honorary mentions, the yoga mat bag, legwarmers, wristbands and doggie sweaters (I'm not even going to mention the P word).  I don't say this to rip on people who have designed them, I just don't understand why people keep designing them when it seems the market has been filled.  Nor do I say this to rip on SnB, because first of all, I love Debbie Stoller, have been a faithful Bust reader for 7+ years and have the back issues to prove it, and I think it's great that so many people have started knitting because of the first book.  You can bet your ass that I will be there when she comes to Tattered Cover LoDo on January 19.  Who's with me?

And since Maryse asked, here are the colors I picked up for the cardie:

and

Don't ask me why I can't get them to be the same size- it annoys me too.  The brown isn't the actual color, but they are sold out of the one I bought, Chocolate Truffle. So imagine it a tinge darker.  I don't think I'm going to do it like the model, since I don't think I have the proper amount of yarn, but I'm thinking to do more stripes like Silvia did with her cardigan (although not as many, because I'm such a smartie with the amount of yarn I bought).  I'm iffy on the combos, but I guess I have to chalk that up to purchasing on the net, instead of with it in my hands.

Comments

[sUsAn]

Thx for the link to the article! I need to dust off my French cds and start playing them in the car again while chauffering the kiddos around. The baby sweater is adorable with the ruffle!! Ditto what you said about SnB Nation (thx for the link btw!). Love those colors you picked for your cardi!

[Libby]

Oooooh! I love the baby wrap! It is so cute!!! I hope you'll post a pic of a baby wearing it.

Count me in on the Tattered Cover trip!

[maryse]

hey you mentioned me! nice color combos by the way. and the baby sweater is cute. AND HELLO! i'm so with you on SnB Nation -- and other publications like it. c'mon -- when does a design stop being original and just being a copy with a few tweaks to what someone else did.

[Leslie]

I'm so whacked about Paris, I think I spent a past life there in the Twenties. La Vie en Rose. Sigh.

[Chandra]

I love both your ribby cardi color combos. I picked the pink and brown too!