San Diego Tea Party February 2009

I got a mention on Michelle Malkin's blog! Susan from San Diego and Trafficknitter ......that would be ME!

First off I have not wanted to get Political on this blog. However, I have been growing madder and madder of the last few years by the arrogance of Washington and this issue crosses all lines.

The spending is out of control. Point fingers all you want if you are so inclined, but the fact is, ALL of Washington needs to be accountable for the "Crisis, Catastrophe, Armageddon", (plug in the word of the day here).

For me, the last straw so to speak was the MASSIVE (my word of the day) spending that was voted on, then signed by the President four days later in Colorado and, by their own admission, not ONE lawmaker....nor the President ever sat down and READ THE BILL. So how can any one of them know let alone explain how any of this spending will affect the country in the near future as well as generations to come??? Let alone say it will SAVE US!!

So, because of the MALPRACTICE of the political process, I did something never before compelled to do. I PROTESTED!!

Grant and I attended the San Diego Tea Party. Both of us holding our signs with our own individual expressions of frustration in full view. Grant was promptly interviewed by every news outlet that attended. As a newly arriving immigrant, his situation has a unique slant to everyone else feeling the same way. Why should he pay for everyone else's bailout when he has been refused loans as a result of the U.S. banks not taking into account his credit rating from Australia? He has started here from scratch and now while trying to build his life here, he is now having to prop up those that perhaps just didn't take the care they should in managing their own finances.

Grant with sign ready.....let the Tea Party begin!

Grant managing his mini media storm. His sign captured the attention of a lot of people today.

We had 600 people show up for the San Diego Tea Party. It was a great turn out, and by all accounts it was a peaceful and respectful display of frustration.

The message is clear.....The Chattering Class do care about all the "little tiny porky amendments"! Let Washington DC eat the pork....we are all full here!! Someone tell Sen Charles Schumer he may be "Shovel Ready" but the American Tax Payers will no longer stand to be piled on quietly anymore.

Back to knitting now.......

Second Sock Syndrome, ME?

Remember this post about the "Glitter Sock" ?

A year to finish a pair of socks? Yep. I can't believe a year has passed but I am now the proud owner of a new pair of glittery socks!

We are expecting rain over the entire weekend so I guess I should start another pair now!

Texturized Tweed Coat and The Buttons

Casted on for the Texturized Tweed Coat on Christmas Day. Discovered a mistake in the seed stitch about the time I had put the sleeve stitches on a holder. Ripped it back and started over on January 5th. On January 12th sitting in an Emergency Room with my mom for 12 hours I turned the wait into a one woman knit marathon and made huge progress on this sweater.

After I had knitted the sweater, Grant and I hunted for the buttons, I found the buttons, and I finished putting the buttons on last night. NOW, on February 3rd, I could announce that my Texturized Tweed Coat is FINISHED! TADAAAA!!!

It is a very striking sweater and rich in texture. The pattern was very well written and easy to follow. The design flattering and the collar.....what can I say....I just LOVE IT!!



Here it is, modeled by Janeva......can you tell she is irritated that I am making her model a wool sweater on a day where the temperature in Southern California hit 85 degrees?

Today, was the first day that I didn't work on this sweater ........I honestly miss working on this sweater! It was a fun knit.

Buttons Buttons I Found the Buttons!!

Remember a few days ago, I ran Grant ragged looking around town for buttons? I was beginning to worry I'd have to settle for any button I could find in the quantity and size just to complete my project.

Well two days ago I found a treasure trove of buttons right here in town!!

As Cute As A Button is located in Point Loma (San Diego) California. They are an online source for buttons but if you want to go to the shop you can call ahead and set up an appointment. I had the shop to myself and was able to lay out all kinds of different buttons on my project before finding the PERFECT buttons for my Texturized Tweed Coat.

More about the project tomorrow, right now we are talking buttons! Kim, the owner of "As Cute As A Button" was kind enough to let me take some pictures of their selection!

As you can see, my photos don't really do the buttons justice, but you can kinda get an idea of the volume and selection that they have.

If you are needing buttons for a project, take a moment to look at the link above and see if you can't save yourself a lot of time, gas, and a big fatty headache by finding the perfect button in the comfort of your home shopping in your PJs!!!

Recycled Yarn?

RECYCLED YARN?? This sweater was once a completed vest. But the vest was not a big hit with any of the three girls in this household...including me. So NOT a hit that I have no "before" pictures of the vest before I ripped it all out.

I frogged the completed vest after it sat for a year unworn and unappreciated and recycled the yarn to make this sweater for Janeva. HUGE HIT! The sweater pattern came from Stephanie Japels "Fitted Knits" book. The sweater is called Boatneck Bluebell......but in our home it has been renamed to "Janeva's Freshman Sweater".

Not only was this sweater a fun knit for me but also fits Janeva beautifully and she loves it. It also appeals to my sense of frugal knitting (not something I'm known for!) and the fact that I didn't just let a finished project sit off to the side to be forgotten.

I won all the way around with this project!