Friday, March 28, 2008

One for the road




Mim is holding a contest for those who can show the signs of Spring. I've been floundering with the frequent snow this year and was so excited to see my little bud. I've watched him, dreaming for the day his bloom would finally burst.








We awoke to...this






Bugg and I are throwing in the towel and heading South for some of this...




My only regret will be that I won't be around if Bud does finally bloom!

All talk and knitting too


Thinking about my finished knit projects and the wip's helped me realize that many of them haven't been posted here. True, true, much time has been spent blocking the squares (the marvelous squares), but there are a few finished objects that can be shared.


This Rose Trellis Scarf was made with Atacama yarn that came to me through a Ravelry swap. It took 2.5-3 skeins and looks very different knit up than in the hank - this was a good gamble and there was enough yarn to make it sufficient length. I like to put it across my throat and pull the ends back to the front then put a scarf pin on.









The Chantal cardigan has been a favorite since being sewn up - I have worn it many times and Love the design. The Berroco Ultra Alpaca and Alpaca Light are perfect - soft and squishy! It would be nice to make it again, but the endless fisherman's rib will keep me away.








There was a nightmare last week where a blue cotton zip neck vest tried to eat me. Translated, this meant that a vest knit up last year was waiting impatiently for a zipper to be sewn in. The nightmare scared me and I gave it...





So, all of these finished things meant there was time to cast on for the vest while waiting for the squares to dry...



I LOVE this vest. The Miski yarn doesn't help my resistance at all ~ all soft and cuddly just yearning to be knit up. The colors chosen (by me) really don't work together. Two colors need to be ordered to even begin and now there is extra Miski, so I began sleep socks for a special someone...in Univ of KY colors.

The plan is to send something handknit every month after Bugg goes to college and these will be perfect for that.

Finally, a new addition to the family arrived - quite unexpectedly! KC (Casey) came to live with us Easter Eve thanks to Bugg. Now that she is 18, she feels like she can last chance rescue any little doggie that needs a home. He's cute, well behaved (for a pup), and housebroken. He is also huge! We are all adjusting and I remind myself that Bugg will be leaving for college in 3 months. Luckily, My Favorite Youngest Son loves this dog, too. Oh, it didn't take long for him to commandeer Lucy's bed...this might get messy ; )

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Blocking the squares










This is going to be one incredible blanket. There is no rhyme or reason as to how the squares are layed out for blocking. All of the squares are here (although all are not pictured). The remainder will be pinned out today.




Donations are still being accepted!






Wednesday, March 19, 2008

A posting of substance

Please help by donating to The American Cancer Society!

Many talented knitters and designers have combined efforts to create a custom blanket that will be given away to someone in appreciation for their donation.

We are 18% toward our goal and all donations are to benefit The Hope Lodge. You can read more about it here.


There are a few packages still in transit and assembly should begin next week.


Thanks to all of the fabulous knitters/designers and to Chris. Can you believe those colors?

For those of you who are interested in having an opportunity to received the finished blanket, you still have time to donate!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Happy St. Patrick's Day


Hope your green beer is cold and you don't get pinched unless you want to be!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

A busy week


I managed to give the Namaste bag away in appreciation for donations to The American Cancer Society. The squares for the most fabulous blanket are trickling in, long before they need to be here. Just seeing the brilliant design and stitch work is inspiring and the blanket is going to be fabulous.



My destash has progressed and I was feeling pretty good about the results before the rooting around began. Realization: there is still too much yarn and I am still in love with all of it - what's a girl to do?


The chiropractor came to my rescue for a very tight muscle in my shoulder. It is still a bit sore, but is much better.



The Easter Bunny popped by courtesy of my mom...who loves Easter too




Unlike myself, there were 3 knit projects cast on this week - Fetching (everyone except me has made these, right?), a rose trellis scarf, and a cable lace redux. All are relatively quick knits and having 3 WIPs is not a concern. Just trying to bide my time until the blanket parts are all in and the assembly begins.





A most exciting package arrived from Ivy. I 'met' her on Ravelry and have enjoyed chatting about that Lady B bag in Dutch Treat (which I've now decided to part with). Anyway, Ivy sent this most beautiful yarn which I've never seen. Mirasol yarns has quite the palette! This is their Hacho which will become some yummy socks and a surprise - 82 yards of the most incredible baby llama ( Miski) that I have ever seen. I hope to check out one of their vest patterns that has caught my eye. Yardage for the pattern is difficult to find online, so a plan will have to develop.



Last, but not least, the most ugly socks are finished. The first one has been languishing for at least 2 years. They are destined as a gift for someone who loves pink...and I hope to never see them again.




Did the time change kick anyone's butt but mine? How does one little hour do that?



Here's to a great weekend, cheers!



Sunday, March 09, 2008

What I finished this week


I really like the idea of the Namaste bag giveaway popping up first, but my hope is that you will zoom on over and donate to the American Cancer Society to benefit the Hope Lodge and still catch up on what I've been doing this week.


There are finished objects!!!!


That darned Chantal cardigan by Norah Gaughan from the Vol 1 book - love it! Hated knitting all of the fisherman's rib and waffle between thinking that I should/could have knit this in one piece back and forth and that it was fine as it was written. It is quite possible that I would never have finished it if it was all in one piece. I did do the sleeves at the same time and that nearly killed me! Bugg and I walked into the store and found these buttons right off - seriously, it was a 5 minute visit and we were out of there with buttons that I am happy with!



I did have one skein of each yarn left over and I know it can be returned. There were maybe two rows left on each shoulder (sleeve) and the Ultra Alpaca ran out. I couldn't see opening a whole skein for a few rows and bind off so I doubled the Ultra Alpaca Light and finished up with it - can't even tell! The remaining skeins will go back this week and something new will probably follow me home.


Some spinning happened this week. My goal was to spin a bit thicker and practice placing the colors where I wanted them. Overall, the result is very pleasing and this may become a hat.








Fiber: Funky Carolina 4 oz. Superwash Merino



Large skein - 134 yards


Small skein - 38 yards


**WARNING** Husbands need not go further** (this means you, honey)

Now, at the risk of tempting you endlessly with yarn...I have a TON of stash that I would love to disburse. If you are on Ravelry, check here for some enabling opportunities. If not, check out the photos in my stash on Flickr.

Just in case you were sidetracked by all of the goodies - don't forget to go back and donate to The American Cancer Society. The Namaste Bag will be mailed out on March 11th (that is only 2 days from now) and it could be yours in appreciation of your support.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Is this your bag?


Is this Namaste Jetsetter bag yours?
It is ready to be shipped out in on March 11th - if you have donated here then it could be arriving soon on your doorstep.
Thanks so much for supporting The American Cancer Society through our charity drive!

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Back to basics

I've been longing to take it down a notch. Get back to a few of the basics and control the insanity instead of it controlling me. From time-to-time, I try to re-evaluate where I spend my time and put a check in place to see if that is still the most valuable draw for attention.

There are many new happenings; spinning, Ravelry, impending college life for my daughter, charity opportunities, and a few projects that don't get off the ground because of the limit on hours in a day.

Knitting remains my first hobby of love, but spinning has been tugging with urgency. Oh, the draw of the fiber...the possibilities...the uniqueness of each strand. I am amazed when the plies are complete and there sits a new skein of yarn that was created by transferring energy through my hands.

Ravelry is, arguably, the most valuable resource to come along for the fiber world in my lifetime. Once my number had been called and I became a newbie Raveler, it was evident that it could become a time-suck. The masterpieces that people come up with are astounding. The opportunity to join communities and meet others who share the same interests is readily available at the click of my mouse. I've met other Ravelers whom are now friends and I am grateful for the chance to 'talk' with them. Need some yarn? This is a swappers dream! It began for me as an online notebook which is what I've needed. A place to organize my stash and future projects. Success and failure has been realized - I have successfully organized most of my stash, but discovered the sheer humungasaurus of it at the same time.

Volunteering for a charity should be easy, right? The squares for the Hope Lodge Charity are beginning to roll in and excitement grows. The perfect way to stitch the blanket, the perfect edging - all are dancing through my mind.

But still, we have college visits coming up and my little girl will be going away in the Fall - and that's all I can say about that right now because it is still too fresh.

So, I am taking inventory to downsize the things I need to cut back on in order to divert energy toward the things that will nourish my soul. A new list is forming and we'll just see how I do at getting through it.

Reduce, reuse, and destash. As I told my dear friend last night - if someone will knit with it... Time will be limited admiring fantastic projects, blog posts will decrease, the basics will be re-located. Family will continue to come first, friends will be held near and dear to my heart and all else will follow.

Monday, March 03, 2008

Easter is coming!


Easter is, perhaps, my favorite Holiday. Besides the significant religious occurrences that Easter marks, it also means that Spring is eminent (or it did before we moved to Michigan).




My empty jars from Dame Candles present an opportunity to celebrate my Easter convictions and to recycle. I help save the environment by reusing those ultra-cool jars and use up some of the bits of odd yarn and thread.




The stitches could definitely be more even, but I was winging the design while I went so the next one will be better.




I have the chart and pattern and if any of you are significantly interested, it can be pulled together quickly.


Other designs are floating in my head and they are going to bounce around until they are on paper and become real life so, get ready...you may grow weary of knit jar covers.





Particulars:
Yarn: Knit Picks Palette in blush, sunlight, and white. Bunny tails made from Berrocco Plush in white. Various color of DMC threads.

Needles: Size 4 DPN

...and there has to be candy inside, right?