Here it is, kids.  The idea perked my ears and made me want to do more more more than I feel like I can do... though all these goals are not out of my reach.  Each task I fulfill will equal an entry on KKBB, and for chrissake, I hope I can do 101 things in 1001 days...

From Triplux.com:

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Here's my list.  Rockers, ROCK ON.  I got me a little less than 1001 days. (I started a little early before posting the list.):

001. Grow hair out, no cutting (trimming allowed), for 1 year. (Started 5/29/06)
002. Cut all of it off.
003. Graduate with a BFA.
004. Start my own garden.
005. Join the gym.
006. Learn how to ollie.
007. Paint a self-portrait in my own time.
008. Be vegan for a month.
009. Crochet Amuragumi for friends.
010. Knit a baby sweater.
011. Drink 3 Nalgene bottles of water per day. (Started 5/30/06)
012. Stop drinking caffeine for 1 month.
013. Participate in a protest.
014. Throw a cocktail party.
015. Send a postcard to PostSecret.
016. Go to Canada.
017. Travel to France.
018. Order custom tags for handmade items.
019. Go camping.
020. Experience the wrath of a full-time (40 hr.+) job.
021. Send a love letter to a love interest.
022. Make an improvised lite-brite picture that fills the whole thing.
023. See Bjork in concert.
024. Prank call an ex-boss.
025. Do 1 sketch every day for 1 month.
026. Survive off of $20 for one week.
027. Join a sports team (University, community, or otherwise).
028. Have my drawings/art up in a cafe in my town.
029. Curl my hair. (Goldi-locks style, yo.)
030. Learn how to apply eyeliner.
031. Keep perfect dental hygiene for 1 month.
032. Sew a dress all by myself.
033. Make bath bombs.
034. Make marshmallows.
035. Knit a sweater from my own design.
036. Tag.
037. Create an alias.
038. Write an article on Wikipedia.
039. Ride a bike everywhere within a 5 mi. radius for 1 month.
040. Go swimming in at least 3 hotel swimming pools in my town.
041. Learn to operate a sewing machine without it breaking. UGH.
042. Move into my own place.
043. Eat grits!
044. Meet someone from the 'net in person.
045. Take cooking classes. (Go to cooking school?)
046. Tag my city/neighborhood with knitting.
047. Make more space on laptop.
048. Go to the movies by myself.
049. Visit the zoo in Arizona.
050. Read at least 5 books on current politics.
051. Knit curtains.
052. Create a resume.
053. Knit one thing out of each knitting book I own.
054. Build a small model-sized house out of matches -- then burn it down.
055. Learn to tie a bowtie.
056. Kiss someone on New Year's.
057. Read half of the Random house Top 100 books.
058. Watch IMDB's Top 250 movies.
059. Go to the drive-in.
060. Skinny-dip.
061. Watch "The Wizard Of OZ" while listening to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon".
062. Write letters "To You" monthly.
063. Touch a spider...
064. Get something pierced other than my ears.
065. Watch all R. Kelly "In The Closet" videos.
066. Really learn how to drive stick shift.
067. Go apple-picking in the fall.
068. Make jam.  Lots of jam.
069. Take vitamins everyday for 2 months.
070. Knit at least 20 things for charity out of stashed yarn.
071. Get a facial.  Don't laugh.
072. Learn different forms of poetry and practice them to understanding.
073. Learn the lyrics to a rap song efficiently enough to rap along.  I'm so white.
074. Go Geocashing.
075. Create & bury a time-capsule.
076. Clean out room to have only necessary things (books & yarn are necessary).
077. Learn how to juggle.
078. Take a walk in a bad-ass Tucson storm.
079. Wake up early (before 8) every morning for 1 month.
080. Try salvia.
081. Develop that mystery roll of film I've had for years.
082. Knit something lace.  God, I hate lace.
083. See how much water I can drink in 24 hours.
084. Sing in public (in a band, another person, karaoke, anything).
085. Get my vision checked.
086. Get allergy tests done.
087. Watch all David Lynch movies.
088. Learn the US state capitols.
089. Get a new bed...
090. Hold a bird without crying.
091. Save $1 a day and DON'T SPEND IT until 1001 is over. (Started 6/5/06)
092. Play Mario Brothers III on my Nintendo DS until I die.  Well, you know what I mean.
093. Listen to every song in my iTunes at least ONCE (I'm fucking insane).
094. Nickel slots.  Need I say more?
095. No sugar for 1 month.  Yes, that even means the fake stuff & honey...
096. Make a short film with a friend.
097. Put an entire paycheck into savings.
098. Transfer all my MP3 files to AAC for the sake of computer space.
099. Tell friends & family "I love you" regularly.
100. Learn to embroider and make things with it.
101. Find a female author that I really love.

So thar she blows!!  I'll be updating the list on the side column and linking things if you wanna follow up oni what the hell I think I'm doing.  Join the fun!

(P.S. -- I just got back from Portland, OR.  It was beautiful...)

I've made Topi from Knitty's latest issue, and am somewhat pleased:

Topi, bitches!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, so it was an OK project... not too challenging, quite easy.  Maybe I need to start on some sweaters or tops or SOMETHING -- I'm just getting way too tired of small things like hats and socks... Would you look at that, I'm growing up.

School is ALMOST over.  I've got my sculpture critique/potluck on Tuesday, Russian studies exam on Wednesday, and finally, my 3' x 4' drawing final/critique on Thursday.  Then I'm a FREE WOMAN.

The pix below go as follows:  the first is my self-portrait beginning sculpture project, addressing some health issues I've had for some 10 years now.  Lots of frustration, and the critique was kind of... uncomfortable... since I haven't talked openly (let alone publicly) about my problems or anything... It was sort of freeing to make the piece as well as talk about it.  Now it lives in the art locker at school.

Also, I've been learning how to skateboard.  It's been fun times.  HOLY SHIT, I should show you guys the amazing bruise I've got on my knee.  In fact, I think I'll upload the pic right now:

Uhm, so yeah.  I fell on my knee a couple days ago, and again last night in the parking lot at my friends apartment.  I THINK IT'S A SWEET BRUISE, counting that I've never had one this humungo.

Happy knitting, happy sk8ing, lalalalala.

PS -- you should listen to Brenda Dayne!!  She's my new knitting buddy in this barren Tucson wasteland (no knitting buddy is all).

Finally, huh?  Yeah, FUCKING FINALLY.  Travis made me a rap compilation, currently listening to Old Dirty Bastard's "Brooklyn Zoo".  Why was I not a rapper sooner?  Is it because I'm a white female knitter?  Or could I twist that to be lady knitta?  Or could I just say "bite me" and deal with it??  I love how diverse Americans can be without having to be something specifically, though I suppose it takes some gaul to go out of one's way to be one thing then another... you never know who you're dealing with, you know?  Who to offend...  I've been gone for ages now, but you know, it's ok.  Because I haven't been knitting!!!! YEAH!!!

A'ight (omg, don't you love it?!), here's the cabled cardi, yo:

TUHDUHHHH!!!!!!!!!!1

I'm so happy about it, I wear it every single day, it's sooooo comfortable and nice and all that jazzy-jazz.  In that pic you can see the detail in the arm, and here is another pic to show you the detail on the front:

So that's all that.  Actually I had some problems with getting my zipper.  It took them a month to send it to me!!  That was pretty shitty.  I had to argue with some guy from the zipper company about "where my zipper at?!" and he told me that I never gave them a color.  Which is false.  I marked color 14 on the plastic molded separating zippers, and he had the balls to tell me that "color 14 is not a color."  AND THEN HE SENT ME THE CORRECT COLOR WITHOUT ME HAVING TO SAY ANYTHING BACK. 

I WONDER SOMETIMES.  >:(

I truly wear this thing every day because I've wanted to make it for like 2 years now, ever since my last trip to SF, where I got DB's book 4.

Here's a package I got from a secret pal.  You know who you are, and thank you so much, you're truly a sweetheart!!

Lots of sock yarn, hand spun yarn (AWESOME!!), litte knick-knacks from Japan town (SF?), and an array of other awesome things!!  This was really a nice surprise to come home to :D  And she also sent me a Japanese knitting book (which I seem to have misplaced for the moment, hmm...) and a Billabong shirt, which actually works on me (I don't usually wear brandname things, but eh, what can ya do? It looks cool!).  The card is tres cool as well.

THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!!!!

Sweet dreams, knitting comrades.

So far I've gotten a few requests on a pattern for the hat, so here it goes:

For this hat I worked double stranded in some type of wool... i should really find that out.  OK!  I used one strand of Steinbach Wolle Eroica (the black, light gray, and white 4ply) (the numbers on the label are 9977 and 410 [the color # i believe]) and another strand of the same stuff (black) (#s: 9971, 000).  It's 45% wool and 55% polyacril N -- this fiber content is GREAT, it's soft enough, not at all itchy, and knits up like butta.

Using a 16" size 9 circular, CO 90 sts. Work in 3x3 rib for 1 1/4 in. (Or if you're using the same yarn as me, 7 rows).
Change to 1x1 ribbing, work in this way for 5 in. (Or if you're using the same yarn as me, 25 rows).
Begin decreasing for top of hat:
PM to mark beg of round, *cont to work 1x1 rib for 18 sts, pm* work from * to * until you reach first marker.  These will be your decreasing points!
OK, so I was knitting this off the top of my head (no pun intended, har har) so I was kinda sorta making up the decreases as I went along, so I'll do my best to remember how I did this.  Basically, each time you get to a decrease marker, k2tog when the surrounding sts are permitting to k2tog, and p2tog when the opposite occurs. 
Make sense? So if there's a k, p, k, p, DECREASE, p, k, p, you'll want to k2tog, but if it happened like p, k, p, k, DECREASE, k, p, k, you would p2tog, just to keep consistency with the 1x1 ribbing patt.  Or if you really don't care what the top of the head looks like so much, wing it like I did and let the stitches guide you 
When the sts decrease to a point that you need to switch to DPNs or two circs, do so.
ANYWAYS, usually on hat patts you see a dec rnd and then knit 1 rnd, but in my patt, it's a decrease round every time!  Like a constant party, which makes this hat awesome!!!! WOOO!  Ok, so dec every rnd (when you cut down to say about, 65 stitches, i would alternate between a regular decrease round and a decrease round where you double up the k2togs to make it go faster and more efficiently [do this by k2tog on each side of the marker with a stitch in between]) until you've got about 6-8 sts left on your needles, cut an 8" tail and weave through rem sts with a yarn needle.  Weave in ends at co edge and inside of top of hat.

NOW time for the brim.
Pick up 7 stitches on the CO edge with a size 8 circular needle (make sure you pu the sts going the right direction so the lip of the brim is underneath the brim).  Purl 1 row.
1st row: k2, m1, pm, k10, pm, m1, k2.  pu 2 sts from hat CO edge.
2nd row: purl to end, pu 2 sts from hat CO edge.
3rd row: K to marker, m1, sm, k10, sm, m1, k to end, pu 2 sts from hat CO edge.
4th row: purl to end, pu 2 sts from hat CO edge.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until your brim is the desired length (about 2 inches [i did mine about 1 1/4 in. not stretched]).
To turn the ridge:
(RS): purl 1 row
**next row: BO2, slipping first st before binding off rather than purling it, p to end.
next row: BO2, slipping first st before binding off rather than knitting it, k to 2 sts before marker, ssk, sm, k10, sm, k2tog, k to end.**
repeat from ** to ** until 14 sts remain (ends with a RS facing). BO all sts, leaving a 20" tail (I did this so I wouldn't have to sew in more ends for when i had to sew up the brim, otherwise, just leave a short tail to weave in later
Then you cut a piece of plastic mesh (i used that cheap cross-stitching stuff cut to a template to fit my brim) and place it in the brim.  Sew up the brim with meshing inside so the brim holds, weave in ends, and VOILA! YER DONE!

I love this hat, and i just found more yarn that i used to make the original, so i think it'll have a twin.  AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
If you guys decide to make this hat, PLEEEEEASE post it so i can see it!! or if you detect any errata, feel free to correct me.

Thanks, and enjoy! 

Hey y'all (pardon my drawl), it's been awhile!

Not much to really say, other than I am currently eating a hardcore delish asian pear and thinking up a storm (brainstorming, perhaps?) about goods to sell at local cafe, Itl's, next craft-sale.

Something awesome, though, I just sold a hat to someone in Minnesota. (Lord knows Minnesotans of all people still need cold weather gear).  Thar she blows:

WooHOooooo!!  Anyone want me to post the pattern?  Thinking about it... school is nuts, I'm drawing soooo much just to keep up with the demands of a sketch book and drawing class plus two other art classes, eep!  But it'll all be swell in awhile -- SPRING BREAK, BAYY-BEE!!!!

So I'm a smidge behind on the weekly project thing that I've vowed to keep up with... This is gonna be harrrrrd.  Yes, I'm only now realizing this.  This is what I'm saying is my Week 5 project:

Ankle socks made with KnitPicks' Flower Power yarn (it is most rad, I do declare)

I wish I could write more, but I have to rush off to class!!  Promise to catch up later.  And some sweet Valentine's Day tips too. <3

Here, I'll show ya:

Clockwise from top left: Keys (bike, house, car, studio keys, Bookstore tag), coffee place punch cards (buy 10, get one free!), all my cards (debit, college ID, drivers liscence, bead store punch card [seems pop, no?] and med card), chapstick, a rubberband, box-o-matches, 65 cents, a book-o-matches, $1.10 in change, and my two favorite rings.

Now you know what lives in my pockets.  Thanks for the idea, Cat!

And guess what I'm makin' this week?  Hmmm, it involves some verrrry pritty yarn from KnitPicks and, shit, some patience.

ALSO, some horribly awesome news. (if that didn't make sense to you, then neither should the fact that there is no such thing as a 15 inch zipper in flannel gray in the US, ARGH!!)

I made a foot out of clay today!  Yippee!  And had a meltdown on Tuesday -- welcome back, school.

I have news for everyone -- knitting and I have renewed or wedding vows for each other and I love it more than ever.  Knitting, baby, you are what keeps me sane.  You are the thread and fibers of my being, the thing that makes me happy to see a relative of your sensual craft.  When I see a cartoon character on t.v. making a scarf, knitting directly from the cats fur until he is naked (one of my favorites), or even just pam anderson holding two large & phallic needles for easy big-knitting, something inside me perks up, excites -- my passion ignites!  I love this art so much, I don't know if I could love anything more.  *sigh*, knitting, never leave me?  Your silky coils of angora, fuzzy strands of acrylic-wool blends, even plain old kitchen cotton -- what is it about you?  Anything you use becomes... beautiful.  Even if I don't want to keep your F.O. out for company to see because it may look a little retarded to some standards... Know that I still love you.  Bunches.

I been feelin' so good about it because I've been churning out projects more than I had collectively been in 2005, albeit sometimes small ones.  Just take a look at the list in the side-column!  I'm doing them weekly, for chrissakes!  Believe me, that's a major stretch for this girl.  If you've followed my blog at ALL, you will see that I barely updated and didn't really hop on the knitting wagon too often... It took a lot to get me pumped.  But when I make myself do something weekly, it jumps a creativity in my brain, helps me prove something to myself.  It's nice.  Or maybe it's just the right time.

So I was scanning through blogs that I lurve (OK, love) and saw that Georgia had posted a pattern for her knitted wristcuffs.  Those babies looked so hott and easy, I made one last night out of the extra scraps I had from the VK Tank I made ages ago.

My Knitting Project of the Week:

Thar she blows!

That was whipped up last night.  Oh, and I'm almost (ALMOST) done with the Debbie Bliss Cabled Hoodie.  I'm so very close!!!!!!!!  I'm so close that everything is sewn together and knitted up and I can WEAR the goddamned thing -- only that everything's not knitted up and I need to knit the last half of the last sleeve and the hood.  I wear this one-armed jacket around sans zipper, hood, and sleeve.  Imagine that.

I LOVE SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't just LOVE it, I can't wait to go back on Monday.  Well, I should correct myself -- I love my art classes, they make me so happy, it's like what I'd like to be doing every day, playing with charcoal and getting messy and making shoes out of wire:

It's really reciculous, I've been thinking about it, to make shoes.  Out of wire.  With 14 other people in a small room and stools and spiral heaps of wire to share.  Are we making wire shoes for some body?  Why is this such a valued project??  Then it hit me -- college classes have made me feel that unless I am writing 5-page-essays regarding the theory of some lame 30 page essay written by a doctor who thinks that med students share a sense of family (duh, why is this being thought about for 30 pages of my time? [college has also made me measure time into pages, hehehe]) that I am doing nothing important.  HOWEVER, drawing contours of easels made of metal pipes and trying to figure out how to not get charcoal all over everything (including yourself -- and the inside of your nose) is more of what I'd like to do.  Always been a tactile person.  No way can I fondle an essay and feel satisfied in the end.  Yarn, clay, metals, pencils, paints.  I'm one for the fondling.

So there's that, the "I LOVE MY NEW SCHEDULE, OMFG!!" spiel.  And I do!  It's truly amazing.  Even my gen-ed classes correlate to art!  I have a Russian arts/media and utopia/dystopia class where the very Czec instructor blasts 18th century Russian music into our heads mid-lecture and an archaeology/anthropology class that deals with old pottery and ceramics. (Also with hands-on labs, SCORE!)

I got a package in the mail!  I've ordered about... 5 things from amazon (only 3 things arrived 0_0 ) and something verrrry special from KnitPicks.  Everyday on my walk home I've been thinking about whether it's there, waiting for me.  It was!  I picked up the box and shuffled around my house in my hand-made socks giggling like a maniac, soaking in the pleasures of getting a huge box of yarn in the mail before I reveal the treasures within.  Carefully, I found scissors and neatly went down the three seams of the box that the tape had been concealing, protecting my purchase.  I HAVE NEVER HAD YARN LIKE THIS BEFORE, so I went nuts and showed my brother (didn't care) and my dad (ditto) and then declared it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.  OK, pictures:

SO EXCITED TO MAKE SOCKS YOU'VE GOT NO IDEA, HOLY WOW.  That is all for now, I do buhleev.  Also bought a book (Yarn to Dye For) and some white merino sock yarn -- guess what I'mma be doin'?

The project of the week is The Pat Hat v.2:

And to let all you crafty hoes out there know (I know you're not all hoes, I just got back from being around a friend and her roomies -- they call everyone/everything a hoe. Sorry.), there will be a PLUSH ALONG!  If anyone is interested in joining or ideas, PLEASE contact me through the contact link at the side or at knittynikkiAThotmailDOTcom.  Peace, yo!

I'm getting kinda nervous about school coming up and all (one day left, BLAAARGH!!) so, like anyone, I'm doing stupid things that require little strict-intelligent thinking and more creative-intelligent thinking.  As in, I'm crafting stupid things that, if I were not a knitter, I would laugh at and stare "oh my, you're a stupid human being" daggers at the creator.

I've delved into the most odd knitted item that I think I have ever knit.  Ladies, here is the first ever knitted postcard:

And here's the paper side:

Alls it took was a small amount of yarn, size 6US needles, posterboard paper, and a hot glue gun.  For some lucky (lucky? maybe :P) participant in Craftster.org's Random Acts of Strangeness Postcard Swap II. 

Pray I don't totally shit myself when my fat workload during school (plus hours at the library and a meeting to work weekly, *sigh*) hits me come Wednesday.  Because dying like that = not cool.