INDIGO DI

"Ten on Tuesday" and Signs

Following Ten On Tuesday and Kathy and Carole by listing 10 Favorite TV Shows (at present but not in exact order): here goes...

1. The Tudors (come on, haven't you watched it from day one?)
2. 30 Rock (Tina Fay's an original)
3. Glee (kinda of date night with DD)
4. The Office ( well it precedes 30 Rock)
5. Project Runway ( another kinda date night with DD and hubby when he makes it home)
6. Castle (love the repor betw the 2 leads, DD has a crush I think))
7. Parks and Rec (another original female lead )
8. The Barefoot Contessa (everything of hers I've tried has been fab)
9. Modern Family (another, Come On! Have you seen this yet?)
10. Masterpiece Theater (not so much in recent years but they are a Treasure)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Signs of Spinning

Signs of Knitting

 
 

Signs of Early Spring

 * Clematis Buds

 

*Vinca Vine
 
   

*Dutchman's Breeches

 
 

Inside and Out

I wish I had noticed how different the inside of this sock was from the outside shown below.  I might have considered another pattern, hmmm,  maybe not :)

I bought this Trekking XXL at a cool shop. Icouldn't pass on the tote.

"Little" knitting  with this wee acorn pattern.

 

Fiber Days

This is a photo taken before the rain moved into New England.  Some beautiful cormo from Barb's  farm. I love the depth of color. This was spun and plied, just about 100 yards.

4 ounces of Merino/ Silk purchased at  NH S&W.

Just enough for a small shawl.
  
  

20 Questions-

20 Questions....

Never done this before so  I thought I would join along with Kim and Carole and the 20 question meme.

1. Explain what ended your last relationship?

He lived in Sweden.

2. When was the last time you shaved?

Umm....4 days ago

3. What were you doing this morning at 8 a.m.

Resetting the clocks because our power went out at 3 am.

4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?

Copying a new recipe for Armenian Kabobs from The Morning Show.

5. Some things you are excited about?

While it was not my intention to acquire another wheel, (I am perfectly happy with what I have)...I did recently buy 3, yes 3 working spinning wheels from a fibery woman that is downsizing her collection, including a  Blue painted Swedish wheel. They were stashed in her barn so they need cleaning . 

6. What is your favorite flavor of JELL-O?

Strawberry but I haven't had jello in  ages.

7. Your prom night, what do you remember about it?

I remember we had a great time!

8. Do you have any famous ancestors?

I may but haven't ever looked into it. Someday I 'll find some time for genealogy.

9. Last thing received in the mail?

A new Riding jacket.

10. How many different beverages have you had today?

3- Water, green tea, and pomegranate seltzer.

11. Do you ever leave messages on people’s answering machine?

Yes.

12. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach?

Sometimes, and collect flat beach rocks.

13. Any plans for Friday night?

Yes, heading to the Jorgensen's cabaret night to hear "Masters of the Fiddle" Natalie Macmaster and Donnell Leahy!  Could be for #5 too.

14. Do you like what the ocean does to your hair?

Oh yeah! My hair really lightens up, Pretty blond.

15. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorns?

Can't say that I have.

16. Do you re-use towels after you shower?

Definitely.

17. Describe your keychain(s)?

Vera Bradley small zip coin purse attached. It's the handiest thing!

18. Where do you keep your change?

Some in a Longaberger Father's Day coin basket, it's really handsome with the brown leather trim and a little pottery dish.

19. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group of people?

This past Saturday night at a early St. Pattie's Day party. It was sort , sweet and funny.

20. What kind of winter coat do you own?

I love winter coats, always have. I will limit this list to what I've worn this past week-

Northface, Tuff Rider, Ariat, LL Bean, Patagonia.  This is New England, the weather changes on a dime.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Never done this before so  I thought I would join along with Kim and Carole and the 20 question meme.

1. Explain what ended your last relationship?

He lived in Sweden.

2. When was the last time you shaved?

Umm....4 days ago

3. What were you doing this morning at 8 a.m.

Resetting the clocks because our power went out at 3 am.

4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?

Copying a new recipe for Armenian Kabobs from The Morning Show.

5. Some things you are excited about?

While it was not my intention to acquire another wheel, (I am perfectly happy with what I have)...I did recently buy 3, yes 3 working spinning wheels from a fibery woman that is downsizing her collection, including a  Blue painted Swedish wheel. They were stashed in her barn so they need cleaning . 

6. What is your favorite flavor of JELL-O?

Strawberry but I haven't had jello in  ages.

7. Your prom night, what do you remember about it?

I remember we had a great time!

8. Do you have any famous ancestors?

I may but haven't ever looked into it. Someday I 'll find some time for genealogy.

9. Last thing received in the mail?

A new Riding jacket.

10. How many different beverages have you had today?

3- Water, green tea, and pomegranate seltzer.

11. Do you ever leave messages on people’s answering machine?

Yes.

12. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach?

Sometimes, and collect flat beach rocks.

13. Any plans for Friday night?

Yes, heading to the Jorgensen's cabaret night to hear "Masters of the Fiddle" Natalie Macmaster and Donnell Leahy!  Could be for #5 too.

14. Do you like what the ocean does to your hair?

Oh yeah! My hair really lightens up, Pretty blond.

15. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorns?

Can't say that I have.

16. Do you re-use towels after you shower?

Definitely.

17. Describe your keychain(s)?

Vera Bradley small zip coin purse attached. It's the handiest thing!

18. Where do you keep your change?

Some in a Longaberger Father's Day coin basket, it's really handsome with the brown leather trim and a little pottery dish.

19. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group of people?

This past Saturday night at a early St. Pattie's Day party. It was sort , sweet and funny.

20. What kind of winter coat do you own?

I love winter coats, always have. I will limit this list to what I've worn this past week-

Northface, Tuff Rider, Ariat, LL Bean, Patagonia.  This is New England, the weather changes on a dime.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

It's Tomorrow

Blocks ordered and ready to go...

Finding the right placement...

Borders on, there is a goof up, can you see it?   I left it in :)

Layered, stretched, pinned and ready for machine quilting tomorrow.

A Little Update

More Bella style mitts...

These were all taken before blocking , which really evens out the cables.

A pair of Sturdy Mittens for Kate.

Heads up, a quilting post is coming for tomorrow  ;)

Valley Fabrics Quilt and More Mitts

As promised, photos of the quilt for my daughter. I don't remember the fabric line but I purchased them when Valley Fabrics of Northampton closed its doors last year.

I kept the machine quilting in very simple lines since the fabrics were so busy.

 

Nearing the finish line with the binding.

I still plan to do some more swirly machine quilting (like my technical jargon?) in the four corners and embroider the names and dates on the back. 

A little Begonia sunshine.

 

Basic, hardy  mittens for my niece Hailey.

with a little personalization in pink.

 
 
 
 

Mitten Love and Heartfelt Thank You

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank You All for the Many Kind Words

 They were Truely Appreciated

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Absolutely love this finished knit! The pattern is Bella's Mittens.

  

They are for my niece at Moravian College.

 

This is a little Gardenia plant my husband brought home form a retirement party, of all things,  last spring. It bloomed profusely all summer and into the fall till a frost signaled it into dormant mode. I guess the lengthening of the sunlight hours has triggered it to bloom again, Yeah!

 

 

Sad News

 

Just wanted friends to know... my father passed away quietly early Friday morning. We were all sad but relieved for him. It was a fitting ceremony, where my son was able to do the honor of playing taps for his grandfather, something we know he would have been proud.

Diane

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harvey R. COLEMAN

COLEMAN, Harvey R. Harvey R. Coleman, 78, of East Hartford, beloved husband for 55 years to Lois (Strong) Coleman, passed from this life on Friday, (January 29, 2010) after a period of declining health. Mr. Coleman was born in East Hartford and had been a lifelong resident of the community. Prior to his retirement he had been employed by Northeast Utilities for 35 years. He was a proud former U.S. Marine and served during the Korean War. He cherished his home and family life and was an avid outdoorsman with interests in fishing and hunting. Mr. Coleman is survived by his two sons; Richard Coleman and his wife, Shay, of Chatham, N.J. and David Coleman and his wife, Em-on, of Sitka, AK, and his four daughters; Diane Edington and her husband, Scott, and Susan Rosa and her husband, Michael, all of Mansfield , and Carolyn Burke and her husband, Kevin, of Jackson ,WY. and Beth DePietro and her husband James of Higganum. He also leaves behind 11 grandchildren. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to gather at the Newkirk & Whitney Funeral Home, 318 Burnside Ave. ,East Hartford, on Monday, February 1, 2010, from 10 a.m. until the 11:30 a.m. funeral home service. The interment will be held at a later date in the Memorial Garden of the South Congregational Church of East Hartford. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Connecticut Audubon Society at www. Ctaudubon.org. Please visit online to share memories and express condolences at www.newkirkandwhitney.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Socks and Heel Hole

I have been knitting a little here and there, and quilting too.  A quilt for my daughter's bed is almost complete. Photos will come but in the meantime...

The feather and fan pattern makes the most comfortable and well fitted socks for me. It's easy to remember and interesting enough to keep the knitting going through the second sock slump. I used the K. Fassett line of  Regia I bought last year for $4 a skein.

I've used a  few toe bind offs but this one is my favorite and quickest.

 

Now to decide how to tackle fixing this poor heel. Any suggestions?

Huck and I will wait...

  
 
 
 

And It's a Match

This hat knit up very quickly. I did not follow the pattern with some of the color choices in order to use yarn from my stash. Now, the question... after yesterday's  68 degrees, will it get cold enough to wear a hat?
 

I have spending most of my free time quilting and not knitting but at last, a finished knitted project! The Rosamal Mittens are a fun and a relatively easy pattern, that is if mitten knitting is in your repertoire. I used stashed yarns and really enjoyed the embroidery.

Quilt Festival- "Window Panes" and "House in the Woods"

"Window Panes" was on my list of favorite quilt patterns for four years. I finally had enough time and fabrics in my stash to start and finish this easy and fun quilt project. I used my old school Singer machine and borrowed a friend's Baby Lock to quilt it.

 

"House in the Woods" was my first attempt at using a machine quilter. Selection of fabrics for each square took a long time but not as long as it took to decide what pattern to "quilt" each square. This is my most expressive quilt so far.

If  your're into Quilting, Go check out Quilt Festival!

 

A Little Spinning...A Little Knitting...

It's been pretty hot here folks, not terribly condusive to wool fiber arts but some progress has been made, ( in between NH kayaking and hiking and horses and swimming)  spinning  and knitting down the fiber stash.

 

Persimmon Tree Fiber on my Matchless.

 

 

Painted Sheep alpaca/merino on the niddy noddy.

 

La La Shawl finished knit with  wool/mohair handspun.

Zauberball Zeton, Quilt

 

Chart 1 was very easy and quick. Hoping Chart 2 doesn't slow me down.

 

Just pretty balls of fiber that were spun last week.

 

"Window Panes " machine quilted and hung, Yeah! A  little out of focus and dark, no wonder, it's raining again.

Skipped Work but got Plenty Done

It was mostly overcast today so I decided to stay home and machine quilt my latest project.

 

It went rather smoothly and quickly.

 

I even machine quilted my initials and date into the border, see D C E?

I also spun a bobbin of  alpaca/merino/silk from the Painted Sheep on my Reeves. These colors are so beautiful, something between corn silk and palomino and blond.

 

I may actually finished these socks as I've turned the heel and I'm headed for toes.

New Yarn, New Sock

  

Whisper Lace Sock pattern using  Ball and Skein  Super Sock  in the color Papaya.

It is a free pattern and easy to remember.

 

Taking photos with the blockers is so much easier.

Delivery :)

 

In the box...

  

In the house...

 

In the sunlight...

 

I was hoping my wheel would have some nice cherry grain! I got lucky!

 

 

It was a bright sunny day so the cherry tone is a little washed out. More pictures later.

Horses

The Gus Rhodie Socks were finally finished this weekend in Canada at the Bromont Equestrian Park. My daughter competes with friends in the Driving event held annually.

There are three events- marathon, cones and dressage. The timed marathon is the most exciting as the team has to maneuver through and around designated obstacles without points deducted for faults. 

 

There are single teams and tandem teams like below.

 

 

This is the Canadian national team of four. They are really flying... see the soil kicked up at the tires?

 

Aurora and George in the winner's parade... Red is first is Canada :)

I came home to see my new, especially designed for me  sock blockers from Chappy!

 

 

Spring Quilting

 

The fabrics have taken over my family room again. I had this pattern in mind for about three years. There's still many blocks to be added. It moved to the forefront after shopping for the last time at my all time favorite quilt shop, Valley Fabrics. I'm sorry to learn they'll be closing their doors.

 

Yes, we still spend lots of time at the barn. DD will be competing again at Bromont, Quebec at the end of the month.

A little spinning time at a friends' allowed me to finish this fiber from Fantom Farm.

 

Although you can't see it on the bobbin, there is a gradient of color I want to maintain with navajo plying.

 

I love this pottery. (I'll have to dig out the potter's name)I have a few pieces that I've picked up at New England Fiber Fairs. This vase is the perfect size.

 

A little spring/summer start on shawl knitting in Zephyr.

 

Ball and Skein project that may get a new beginning with a new pattern.

 

Three different varieties of Lilac, each with their own distinct fragrance.

Nest Progression, Flocks of a Different Kind...

The days since my last post have been full with working, exercising, Festival going( NH & Mass.), kayaking, & concerts. The most notable and  grand though was our getaway to Virginia and our oldest sons' Graduation Day.

180 th Final Exercises, University Of Virginia, Charlottesville, The Rotunda, The Lawn, 2 am.

 

The Lawn, 10 am.

 

The Graduates.

 

I can't believe this poor photo is the only shot I got of my son in Cap & Gown.

 

The 3 kids, my oldest Sean(center),  next stop graduate school, Princeton, Physical Chemistry.

Congrats Sean!

 

See I was there.

 

Progression #2...

 

 

Walloping Downpour.

 

 

All is well. Spinning and Knitting content next time, OK?

The robins' nest while undisturbed is still there, but the eggs have been moved or... consumed.

The bluebirds are ever the perfect parents, the young ones should be leaving the nest soon.

A Little of Everything

 Robin nest and eggs,  Handsome lamb from Barb's farm, Rhodie Gus socks modified, Chloe, Barberry Blooms, Titmouse gathering cat fur from Cat House, Sparrow nest and eggs, Oriole through window, Bluebirds nesting (click for big)

 

 

 

 

 

Grafton Fiber Arts Needles and Socks

 

These are my new favorite needles ordered from Grafton Fiber Arts. I love  the color and the way they hold the yarn without grabbing. They are only 5 inches long so I am adjusting to the shorter length.

My new sock project with The Woolen Rabbit merino/nylon has got my full attention.

 

This is the patterning at the front and back of the sock.

 

I almost like this side patterning better, so I might re-orient the sock.

 

New Fiber and Sun

   

Alpaca/Merino/Silk, new spin for me.

 

Can't get these lyrics out of my head...

Well we all shine on,
Like the moon and the stars and the sun,
Well we all shine on,
Ev'ryone come on.

and

Good Day Sunshine......

 

and, "Here Comes the Sun".

Flashback...

During my seventh grade summer my PF group, a Congregational Church youth group, went (with many other PF groups) to a summer camp at Silver Lake.  Now, I have to say my memories of church going were more of  a place to get together with friends. While the adults were in "church", we were in "Sunday school", learning a little history, doing arts and crafts, listening and or playing music on the record player, or  playing sports out in back and. Yes, we could bring in our own records and  play the music in the classroom. The program was great for the camper and for the Mom. It seemed where I was from, most families had a least four children. I grew up in a  family of six kids. This at least gave some Moms a break.

Back to camp... for the two weeks, between the typical summer camp activities like, swimming, dodge ball, canoeing, working on skits (because you know there was going to be a "talent show") we all had to sign up for some sort of chore. Everyday you would complete your task whatever it was, sweeping the bunk room floor, collecting all the sports equipment, tying up the boats, collecting the paddles, delivering ice to the canteen, making sure there was toilet paper in the bathrooms, you get the idea.

 My chore was setting the breakfast tables with two other kids. This was in 1972. The canteen was set back in a pine grove near the lake, a wooden hall with a covered porch, a  full kitchen and stone fireplace. We set out real plates, real knives, forks, spoons and glassware. There were about twenty good size, roughhewn, wooden dining tables and chairs, maybe 12 to a table. This was a good memory because the cook and his team had good taste in music and a fantastic stereo system wired in the hall. The speakers were the size of furniture. We  started everyday setting tables to "Here Comes the Sun" promptly at 7 am. I can still hear the sound in the speakers of the record arm's needle being reset as he would play it more than once.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj1AesMfIf8

(give it time to load)

 

My Birthday!

Things Noted and Enjoyed Today!

(keep in mind, it was a Monday... a rainy, gray, Monday)

~ The eagles were not present at their nest site on the Mansfield reservoir this morning but we did find Common Mergansers and budding Pussy Willows.

~ A Great Blue Heron flew over my head. That's good luck you know and it doesn't matter how high over your head it was :)

~ My Grafton Fiber Arts needles came today and there was an extra Green Mountain set in there as a surprise.

~ I bought a chocolate Whoopie Pie and it was g o o d!

~ I also bought several magazines  today (I usually never buy magazines, rather I get a subscription of my favorites).

~I briefed through my new Amazon delivery "The Intentional Spinner" J McC  and Folk Knitting in Estonia. These two I would put on my list of "Must Have"!

~ Was thoroughly entertained by watching dd and class at Polo practice.

 

 

 

Fiber photos and the like next time :)

Pileated Wood and Pileof Wool/Play on Words and Nature

 

I was working on this pile of wool, plying, skeining when out of the corner of my eye something big flew by.

 

See him?

 

 

There were actually two. Can you see, one sideway center, the other at same level two trees to the right.?   We've been seeing at lot of early spring birds, waxwings, robins, bluebirds, and these Pileated Woodpeckers. This day, a day I wish I had a zoom lense. Maybe for my  birthday, yep on Monday. 

Spring or No Spring

 

Taking the chill off.

A Little Spring Yarn Stash Sale

Prices include shipping ... Colors Accurate!

Send me an email and I'll mail out the next day!

 

Noro Silver Thaw  4 skeins

 Color 12 / Lot B, 220 meters, needles 8-10

40.00   Sold!

 

 

Araucanai Nature Wool

Colors 28, 39, 40  220 meters, Needles 5-8

14.00 all three or 5.00 ea

 

Spunky Eclectic, Super Sport(Superwash),  Hand painted

Color Breathtaking, 180 yards, Needles 3-4

9.00

 

Louet Euorflax 100% Wet Spun Linen, Light worsted weight

Pewter, 190 yards,  Product of Belgium

10.00

A Little Spring with Your Fiber

 

Persimmon Tree singles with forsythia, Thank you.

The forsythia forced of course, it's still quite March here in NE CT.

 

 May 2008 NHS&W purchase.

Found Noddy* and Fun Stuff

  

OK, I must have carved a path between my family room and the driveway, where my car was parked, then back through the foyer, where I stash stuff.  I looked and looked and looked again for that darn noddy, back and forth, through the day, imagining the thing as I remembered it in my big, blue, monster LL Bean Tote.  Then this morning I opened the hatch and there it was, barely visible under the rug that lines the well in the trunk. Phew. ~~~Above, singles spun from Fantom Farm wool/mohair blend from the VT S&W 2008. I love their colors!

 

Three skeins just off the noddy and waiting to be wet and whacked. Let's hope they hang straight.

 

 

Gray Leicester Longwool blended with 20% cream alpaca filling the bobbins.

 

Mock Sock making progress.  :)

Lost Knitty Noddy at SPA

I only just discovered  that I came home with one less spinning tool. I last had my cherry Knitty Noddy, which was kept in a blue with white stripe fabric pouch, in the Old Town Hall next to the Hilton's main lobby. I left Saturday late afternoon and wonder if I left it behind.  Anyone safekeeping it?

I sure hope it isn't with Kim's"Oh Canada".

Waaaa :(

SPA 2009, Mad Color Weave Socks

I got  plenty of spinning,  shopping and knitting accomplished  before and during SPA. 

Staying with my plan of matching stashed yarn with stashed patterns, success! This is sock yarn I purchased 2 years ago in the Webs warehouse for $2.00 a skein!  After seeing Carol's and Jessalu's knitting I knew I had a winner.

 

Crofter's Cowl complete with one less repeat than the pattern instructs. I used what was left of my Beaverslide McTaggart Tweed.

 

Singles spun from Persimmon Tree Fiber the Thursday before leaving for Freeport. The rest, next time ;)

Cowl Constructing

 

I've seen many a charming Cowl pattern this winter and have knit a couple myself.  Any guesses which one crowns my dining table?  Beaverslide Yarn employed here.

Cable Twist Socks

 

 

 

 

I love these socks! The Pattern is from Hello Yarn and the Yarn is from Ball and Skein.

My modifications were a 8 stitch repeat instead of 6 and working a Partridge Heel over 30 stitches. Normally I knit the heel a little higher, I guess I was anxious to finish.

 

Buttons for Julia Sweater

 

Good thing I liked these buttons because they were my only choice.

 

 

Quick mitts knit for dd and Beechwood cowl  by Ilga Leja 
knit from leftover sock  yarn.  It's too loose so it just sits there waiting to be frogged or maybe I'll give a hot wash?

Colinette Skye Reborn and Misc

Twelve or so inches of snow kept us outside shoveling through the weekend but  dipping temperatures (-10 degrees /night)  also confirmed my  nestled status on the couch with knitterly things.

I think I've had this yarn since 1998; a few skeins in different colorways sitting in the bottom of a stash basket. It was an instant decision to knit the cozy 5 Hour Baby Sweater for newborn, neice Julia.

This is about the 2 hour mark for me.

 

Completed in close to the recommended time and now ready for blocking. I substituted a seedstitch hem instead of what the pattern called for.  On my long list of errands tomorrow are 3  buttons  to match. This photo below shows the true color.

 

I was thinking of a hat or booties to match but opted instead  for a Bitty Bear, Summer 2005). The eyes are googly and now looking at this photo I'll have to make a them smaller along with the bow!

Two Blue Birds of a Sort

  Blue Partridge... heel knitting  on my Cable Twist Socks that is. I paused to take a "look see" and thought oh, that's pretty.

 

Meanwhile, the Blue Birds were enjoying the homemade suet that I made last week. All the birds really love it. This was taken through the sliding door with my little 4 year old Canon Elph.  I'd love to have  better zoom ability.

Blue Bird Winter Treat~

1 cup crunchy peanut butter

2 cups quick cook oats , (I also added the last of some various cereals, Cheerios, Special K)

2 cups cormeal (plain)

1 cup lard or Crisco

1 cup white flour

1/3 cup sugar

Optional: 1 cup wild bird seed, nuts raisins, dried fruit

Melt lard and peanut butter. (Micro-wave works best.) Add remaining ingredients. Mix in large bowl.

I spread it out in a cookie sheet, pressed flat,  froze it, the cut into squares. I also crumbled some up for the fly through feeder.

 

All time favorite knitting happening now because I came upon the perfect pattern for the perfect yarn :)

 

As promised, scarf and coat.

 

We were pretty good about not having an abundance of holiday treats this year and had pretty much cleared them out after New Years. Great, right?

So... On his way back from dropping my son off at College in Canada, my husband calls and asks,

"So, how many chocolate croissants should I bring back?"

I said, "Well, just one would be good."

"Oh, well I got a dozen."   ACK!!!

Scarf Knitting

 

Delightful knitting with stashed Inca Print Alpaca, purchased 2 years ago with no plan in place. It actually color matched well with two wool winter coats dd got for Christmas. The stitch is  perfect, {K1, S1 as if to purl(wyif)} not too heavy but enough texture to please eye and hand.

 

The light has been so difficult to catch the true shades but hopefully the sun will pop out sometime in the next um, 2, 3 weeks?!? I'll have proper shots then.

December?

This is my front porch with tomatoe cages upsidedown, wrapped in grapevine and white lights and ribbon for Christmastime. It is the first that I remember  the pansies  blooming under  and to the side of the granite steps. I have a feeling that it will not be the last.

 

        ~~~ Wishing you all a Health and Happiness in the New Year!  ~~~

   

Last week's snowfall has all but melted.

 

Small knitted projects continue to trickle.

Mini Mitts

 

I love knitting these mini mittens  with leftover koigu! Quick, Easy, Satisfying! I guess these  these  will be next.

Photo Diary of a Fleece

 

White Border Leicester fleece  purchased from the CT S&W 2007.

 

Dyed and carded and spindled some locks. The rest went to be processed.

 

Spin, spin, spin.

 

Ply, ply, ply. 

  

Mr. Sheep was knit with the turkish spindled yarn.

 

  

Wash, rinse, squeeze.

  

 

Another squeeze and dry.

  

750 yards give or take. 

Coordinates

   

I'm noticing that I look for things to match more than ever before. Maybe you all do this on a regular basis, but since my work environments are tres casual, a college campus, I've never had to really be too focused on what I wear other than neat and clean. Lately, I've been choosing socks that coordinate with tops, even though I'm the only one who can see them and  I've been looking for hats and mittens, Scarves and beanies that coordinate. It was time to give my red mitts a mate.

The yarn is pirrkka lanka and Alice Starmore bainin from the stash, all time favorites. 

Endlessly working on a pile of fluff.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

I brought the Turkey, not the usual kind though :)

Hat Attack

Having fun knitting these small projects and using yarn from the stash. This Four Square Hat started with just 86 cast on stitches and  has yet to be washed and softened.

 

Not so happy with the felted wheel bag. The hand paint I chose lost LOTS of it's color in the process. Check out  my earlier post to see the original color.  

  

My next bag will be started with less stitches and a careful selection of yarn.

Navajo Plying, Check

Fantom Farm fiber from May 2008.

 

  

   On Deck...

 

Friday FO's

 

It's just me and the dog today.  Love the way this beanie knit up. 

 

 

I finally got to knitting a spinning wheel bag for myself.   It measures 3.5 X 6.5"  before  felting  in the washer. I'll let you see the results next time.

Color Departure and Fleece Homecoming

It was hard not to stay in and spin after attending the NHA weekend in Marshfield, Ma.  I learned plenty, knowledge gaps were filled, and fiber was employed. This chocolate BFL top that was used for plying practice is perfect for this hat in progress. I thought the above skein was worsted variegated but once on the skein winder,  I realised it had been wound, four individual colors together, to make a heavy weight yarn. Weird, I didn't notice when I bought it. It took some time but I unwound it and yep, wound it up in separate color balls.

I plan to "unrib" the start and change the color.  

 

Usually the UPS man  delivers computer components from Newegg or some other online company, but not yesterday. See what was delivered? Spinderella's was very swift in the turnover on this order!