Merry Merry

Dick and Marie decorated tonight. I finally talked Dick into getting a pre-lit (aka 'fake') tree. Every year, I want to start decorating the day after Thanksgiving but Dick resists, mainly because the 'real' tree we usually get dries out too fast and becomes a hazard. Now I can decorate at Halloween if I want! (just kidding, honey!)

I went in to work for a few hours and came home to a fully decorated house. The entry hall - the dining room - the front bay window - and even holiday linens. Sweet.

Total Trust

The FO's continue to flow. This is blocked, packed and ready for shipping tomorrow. It's Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK in Magenta, two strands held together for a worsted weight. It's incredibly soft and close enough to purple that I seriously considered keeping it for myself . . . . Oreo was kind enough to model this FO. I thought she'd protest so I had the camera ready for a quick shot. I pulled it over her head, then pushed the belly band under her to button it - and she didn't even open her eyes. Dick says that shows total trust. I say it's total laziness. There are two of these - the other one is purple with orange and blue stripes - and they aren't for Oreo. This is a commissioned project that gets shipped out tomorrow also.

Less than seven days to go and I still have an afghan, a shawl for me and two Christmas stockings to complete. Piece. Of. Cake.

Good Times

This is great - you need to watch for a few seconds before you'll see what's going on. (Swiped, with apologies, from Mason-Dixon Knitting.)

Celebrating

another I'm-not-having-anymore-birthdays day. Dick got me the 20" Knitter's Loom I wanted - can't wait to make something on it. We had lunch at Macaroni Grill with all the CA kids, complete with this gorgeous cake from the Bread Basket in Camarillo. It tasted every bit as good as it looks. And since it's birthday cake, there aren't any calories, right??

She Liked It

Naia liked the scarf - but I think she likes Snickers more. And Little Miss Chicken Kitty - who's afraid of her own shadow and rarely tolerates people - likes Naia too.

On Track For Christmas

Finished the second pair of mittens this morning for the Soaring Eagles Project. I was hoping to make 3 sets, but I'm running out of time. I may be able to crank out another pair tonight, if my crochet arm doesn't give out on me. The Lion Brand pattern is well constructed and a pleasure to make. The yarn is stashed Tweedle Dee from Modea Dea. Stash busting and a good deed. It doesn't get much better.

The next item on my list is underway. This is for a shall-not-be-named family member whom I drew for the family gift exchange. Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk. Sinfully soft. Hopefully, someone will be very pleased.

Dick's been busy too, working almost all day, every day, in the garage. What's he making? Can't say. It's a present. [evil grin] But Rachel knows.

And look what showed up on my doorstep today - from one of my favorite places - two sweaters worth of pure wool in 'Fawn' and 'Merlot Heather'. Twenty skeins, 4970 yards, for less than $80 including shipping. I {heart} WEBS.

Baby, It's Cold Inside

Temps are getting down into the 40's at night - that's cold for SoCal - and it's apparently too much for the cats. They've abandoned my lap for something warmer - the floor heater. I love how AJ stretches her paws under the heater to take full advantage of the warmth. Can you say "spoiled"?

Started a new project on the RH loom tonight. Remember how long it takes to warp the floor loom? Hours and hours of work before any actual weaving starts? I started this scarf project at 4:00 and I was weaving by 5:15. Very cool.

I Fell Off The Wagon

Look what followed me home - a sweater's worth of Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend. This is the most beautiful stuff I've ever seen. Love the colors, but it's the shimmer of silk that makes it so stunning.

I've tried to be good. I've tried to resist buying yarn until I'd used up some stash. But this called to me. It begged me to bring it home. In the spirit of the season, how could I possibly say 'no'?
I spotted this before Lois even had a chance to get it out of the shipping box. And I held out for an entire day before caving; all Lois had to do was mention that she only had 10 skeins . . . and 2 were already sold . . . and she might not be able to get more right away . . . and, yeah. I'm a real tough sell.

What am I making? The Boho Blocks Cardigan (scroll down) by Valentina Devine (Ravelry link). After Christmas.


Tech specs: Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend, 30% silk, 70% Merino extrafine wool, kettle dyed; approx 150 yds per 50 g skein.

Racking Up the FO's

My second Christmas project is done. I made a set of these in 2005 for John, Rachel and Colton, so this year I made Miss Addison one to match. I love the Christmas tree detail and how these are made just like 'real' socks, with a heel flap, gusset, and toe shaping. The pattern - O Christmas Tree by Kathy Wesley - is well written and available for download for .99 from epatternscentral.

Two items down, eleventy-seven still to go . . . .

Tech specs: "G" crochet hook and 3 colors of washable wool - Modea Dea Washable Wool in True Red, Plymouth Encore in #1233 (foresty green) and Lion Brand Wool-ease in White Multi #301.

Put On Your Shades

Scarf #2 is done - and it is bright. Reds and pinks, with a touch of purple. Perfect for a 6-year-old, yes? Our rigid heddle instructor said she can make a scarf, from start to finish, in two hours. I'm not that fast but I bet this didn't take me more than four hours. And it was fun.
My assistant helped me again today. She wasn't as enamored with the loom since I wasn't using alpaca, but she had to put her 2 cents worth in. She got tired after about 20 minutes and I actually got some weaving done. With Oreo curled up on my lap, between me and the loom, once again.

Tech specs: Warp yarns - Modea Dea Washable Wool in True Red and Plymouth Yarn's P-Zazz, color #6205. Weft - P-Zazz and Cascade's Fixations; the wool was free in my crochet conference goody bag and the P-Zazz came from the deeply-discounted sale bin at my LYS. I love almost free FO's.

Towers of Power - and an FO

I'm organizing my stash - yet again - but thanks to Ravelry, I think it might work this time. I've got about 2/3 of it photographed and listed. I'm a little embarrassed by how much I have and how much of it I'd forgotten about. But did that stop me from buying a sweater's worth of yarn last night? Or placing an order for 2 sweaters-worth at Webs? Noooooo, of course not.

Now that I can see what I have all in one place - with pictures! - I think I'll use it more efficiently. That's the plan anyway. One of Ravelry's niftiest stash features is a line to list where the yarn is stored. Introducing the Towers of Power - stackable yarn bins lining my fireplace. (Pictures are severely cropped so you can't see the mess in my studio. I'm organizing. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.) Dick brought the stack above home from T*rget and they were such a good fit that the next day he brought home more. (Think he's trying to tell me something? Nah, me neither.) I have fresh batteries in my label gun and I'm ready to fill these puppies. I finished my first scarf on the Ashford Knitter's Loom in time for tonight's last class - and a second scarf is warped and partially woven. This one's a 50/50 blend of alpaca and acrylic (Thanks, Carolyn!) It must look okay since Dick has already claimed it for himself. And yes, I'm hooked on rigid heddle weaving. It's so fast - and I can use stash yarns (see above). Guess what I'm getting for my birthday?

Weaving Help

I had a little "help" with my rigid heddle weaving today. Oreo was in love with this alpaca yarn - she kept rubbing up against the loom, chasing the yarn and generally making a nuisance of herself. Normally she's indifferent to my yarn stuff. Not today. When she finally tired, she insisted on sleeping between me and the loom. I'm hoping to finish this tomorrow, before class at 6. Oreo may find herself locked in the garage.

Needle Felting

Sunday's needle felting class was a lot of fun. Jane Davis has written a number of books, on a variety of fiber arts, and teaches at my LYS. How lucky is that?

These look better in person (I'm blaming my photog skills rather than my felting skills . . . ) and will be the top of two Christmas stockings. Marie has claimed one and the other may be for Gary or Dick, I haven't decided which yet. I still need to crochet the 'stocking' part with the dark green Cascade 200 I bought. Next week. Maybe.

Sweater Bug

I should be working on Christmas presents - and only Christmas presents - but I've got the sweater-bug really bad. I've almost finished Fall Forward

and today I bought the yarn - Cascade 220 Heather green - to make Green Mantle from Crocheted Aran Sweaters by Jane Snedden Peever. I love the clean lines.

What should I be working on, you ask? Addy's Christmas stocking to match the ones I made her family in 2005 - a daisy square afghan - a scarf or shawl (can't decide which) for the family member whose name I drew (not telling who!) - and maybe a little something for Rachel if she still wants it.

Addy's stocking is about a third done.The rest? Not even started.

23 days to go and counting.