The walls are painted, the hardwood floor is installed 
and the baseboards are on. 
All that's left to do is move the furniture back into place, hang the curtains - once they arrive; back orders are a pain - and toss on the new bed linens. We're very close to done.
Ran over to the Oaks Mall and had the CA baby grands' picture taken with the Easter bunny. Literally ran; they were closing an hour from the time we thought about going and this was the only day we could do it. 
Leia thought the bunny was wonderful - right up until someone plopped her on his lap. She wasn't happy, even with Naia holding her. This is the only picture in 8 (9, 10??) shots that was usable. But aren't they cute? Happy Easter!
1 - the new table is in place, right behind the couch in the teevee room, where I can craft while Dick watches his shows. This is turning into my recycled corner - in addition to the table and chairs coming from a resale store, the covering is fabric an artist friend was going to throw out during her recent studio move. The size is perfect and I love the pattern; just need to hem the edges and it's done.
2 - I've got another case of startitis. Even with all the projects I have in various stages of undone-ness, I just had to start a new sweater (details here). That I'm hoping to have done by Saturday so I can wear it to guild. 
I do love me some crocheted cables. (The color is actually light brown, not the dull gray my monitor shows.) 
3 - Finally blocked the handspun knitted shawl (details here) and I.Love.It.
I love the drape and how heavy this shawl is; love the color and the little sparkles; love that I actually finished a knitted project. 
Love how much blocking improves an FO. That still amazes me every time.
Dick and I went shopping at a consignment resale store yesterday, looking for a workbench/table for my new jewelry-making hobby. Came home with this instead - 
a table and chairs for the baby grands. The price was too good to pass up and I love that the sides fold down to save space when not in use. 
It'll be a great place for art projects, dinner at grandma's and more. And I think I can make it work for my hobbies too.
Lots of progress going on around here. I started Addy's new blankie - 
I'm calling it the 'Mermaid Princess' blanket. The turquoise added to the pink/purple makes me think of Disney's Ariel.
The second color is on the walls (2 walls are 'Sly Fox' red and 2 are a neutral tan) 
and the hardwood flooring is going down.
Nice big baseboards
Some furniture's back in place. 
Madam Supervisor, taking her life in her
Starting a blankie for Addy and having trouble deciding which color combo to use.
Oh, Rachel . . . . opinions??
I did this - 
Byzantine bracelet in a class from my new favorite crafting store, Cottontail Creations. 
Still need to block it, but I had a willing model today (thanks, Bre!) so I took some photos. 
This is handspun-by-me yarn; love the color and the little threads of sparkly that are all through it. 
I see this shawl getting lots of use.
This is my standard sock pattern (bits of this and that from a variety of patterns I've tried) made with Austermann Step yarn. 
Not that crazy about the wide stripes but they're warm and comfy. 
Love the handmade socks.
I took two jewelry classes this weekend. Friday was resin and wire for beginners with Tracy Stanley, the author of several books on resin and metal-work. 
I definitely qualify for the 'beginner' part; this is the first metal work I've ever done. I ended up with 8 pieces total and Marie has already laid claim to one. Don't have a strong desire to work with resin again, it just isn't my thing, but the class was fun.
On Sunday, Dick and I took a metal bracelet class with the same teacher. He got sick and went home at lunchtime, but I finished my project by the end of class. 
I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. It's definitely a beginner's piece but I plan to wear and enjoy it. 
Thursday I'm taking a jump-ring - aka chain maille (examples here) - jewelry class and I'm really excited about it. Think I'm turning into a metal-head.
Took a resin and metal jewelry class today, from the same instructor who is teaching the cold riveting class on Sunday.
click pictures to enlarge
but I did like working with sheet metal and fashioning bezels. I'm not sure I'd do more resin work but I'm glad I took the class. 
Better pictures as soon as my pieces dry (24-hours or so) and I have something other than a cell-phone camera available.
Dick and I are taking a cold riveting jewelry class on Sunday so today was shopping-for-supplies day. You gotta love a class that requires four types of hammers, three kinds of pliers, metal shears and a saw.
Chasing hammer, riveting hammer, nail hammer and plastic mallet.
Before it's delivered on 3/16, we need to decide on, purchase and install new flooring, paint the walls, hang the curtains and more. Dick's going to be very busy these next 2 weeks. Sunday's jewelry class may be his last bit of relaxation for awhile.
I signed on for both the Knitting Olympics and Ravelympics this year. I work better to a deadline - always have - so knowing I had 17 days to complete my project(s) was perfect.
I didn't achieve all my goals, just like in the real Olympics; the crocheted sweater I thought would be a cinch is languishing with one back panel completed. In fact, I didn't medal with any crochet projects. My Olympic glory centers around knit and Tunisian FO's.
For the Knitting Olympics 
and Ravelry's Lace Luge - 
I finished the Estonian shawl sampler from Nancy Bush's class. First knitted lace, first knitting chart, first Kirchener stitch, all in one little project.
For the Scarf Super G 
and Stash Dance - 
I double-medaled with the Tunisian shell sampler scarf using yarn I've had in the stash for well over a year.
My favorite event was Designer Pattern Skeleton
and the Tunisian Treasure Shawl, with the free pattern available here.
WIPs Dancing turned out to be my strongest event, 
with completion of the Cat Bordhi moebius 
and the One Row scarf that I started knitting from my handspun yarn in 2007. Especially gratifying to have this one finished.
Now that the Games have concluded, it's back to baby blankets (2 in the works) and the remaining 8 shawls for my 10 Shawls in 2010 challenge. Onward!
I started these while teaching a crocheted sock class, not really planning to finish them right away, but they've caught my interest. I do love making socks. (details are here.)
It might also be influenced by the loss of one of my favorite handmade socks. 
I think it fell out of my bag on the way to class Saturday; and I think the kitten made off with it. She's started stealing my crochet hooks - out of my bag, no less - and chasing them around the house, like she does her ball. With the ball, it's cute. With my hooks, not so much. Hope this is just a phase for her. . . . And I really want my sock back.
I've been on a knitting kick this week. It started with the Nancy Bush workshop on Tuesday. I was determined to finish the shawl sampler, hopefully in time for today's guild meeting. 
Made it! I finished knitting this - nupps and all - last night about 6 pm. This is definitely the most complicated knitting project I've tackled. I'm very pleased with how it turned out.
One of my goals for the Ravelympics was to finish this handspun scarf I started knitting in 2007. Earlier in the week I decided this should be done in time for guild too. Nothing like a deadline to get me motivated. 
Wove in the ends and put this on the blocking board last night about 7 pm.
And as long as I was fishing for WIPS*, I grabbed this on my way out the door this morning and finished it up during the guild meeting. 
It had languished since the Cat Bordhi workshop in January while I finished up baby blankets. It's a little short - I'll cast on more stitches next time. But it's soft and it's DONE.
*Works In Progress. Details for all these projects are on my Ravelry page.
